Authors: Ryutaro Uchikawa, Sunao Sadaoka, Ichiro Kawahara, Emi Oki, Junichi Otogoto, Akio Yamamoto, Mihoko Tomida
Introduction: It was proved that an oral cavity function participated in the health of the whole body, and the importance of the tooth was re-perceived. It became clear that a large number of teeth suppressed the degradation of cognitive in the elderly person. Therefore, the preventive method to maintain an oral function with many teeth is demanded.
Objective: We investigated a factor for an elderly person to keep a large number of teeth and discussed the guiding principles to maintain them.
Materials and Methods: Patients who were 65 years or older in the Matsumoto Dental University Hospital were participated in this study. We investigated the number of the teeth, quantity of stimulation saliva (ml/5min), saliva buffering ability, PCR (Plaque Control Record), seven lifestyles of Breslow and the total of favorable lifestyle, Health Practice Index (HPI). Subjects were divided into two groups, less than 20 teeth and 20 or more than 20 teeth, and were compared with each factor. The correlation of each factor was explored using the correlation coefficient of Spearman and after them the factor in conjunction with the number of the teeth were fond out using the multiple regression analysis by the step Wise method.
Results: The saliva buffering ability in the subjects with 20 or more than 20 teeth was higher than that of the other group. In addition, HPI in the former group showed a high point compared with the other group, particularly the weight was maintained. There were significant correlation between the number of the teeth and buffering ability, PCR or HPI. And the factors related with the number of the teeth in independently were buffering ability and HPI.
Conclusion: These results suggested that it is necessarily for all generations to invoke the saliva buffering ability and let them be aware of a risk, and to instruct the favorable lifestyle.
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