Abstract
This paper is some reviews of our developed measuring method for masticatory performance and effects of occlusion and mastication on improving quality of life in epidemiological researches. In our researches, masticatory performance has been determined by the concentration of dissolved glucose obtained from comminuted test gummy jellies, which are the standardized food developed for measuring masticatory performance. From the results of epidemiological researches, it was suggested that masticatory performance has been significantly associated with number of teeth, posterior occlusal contacts, occlusal force, salivary flow rate, degree of taste satisfaction, self-assessed general health and gastrointestinal disease in older adults. And it was indicated that subjective assessments, such as satisfaction of mastication and food acceptability were significantly backed by feeling of dry mouth and objective assessments, such as masticatory performance and posterior occlusal contacts.
In addition, a short-form of oral health impact profile (OHIP-14) was employed to examine the impact of masticatory performance on oral health-related quality of life for elderly Japanese. According to the results, persons with good self-assessed general health, satisfaction with financial status, no dry mouth, 24 and more teeth, more occlusal support, and higher occlusal force and masticatory performance had significantly lower total OHIP-14 scores, suggesting higher quality of life than their counterparts.
This paper suggests that occlusion and masticatory function may play important roles in order to have a good fun dinner, to have a pleasant chat with family and friends out of the house, to lead a healthy life physically and mentally, and to improve quality of life.
