Impacts of dental checkups on oral function among Japanese older adults
Abstract Dental checkups are integral to maintaining oral function in older adults and are a critical determinant of overall health and quality of life. However, their impact on oral function parameters remains understudied. This study investigated the association between dental checkup attendance a...
Saved in:
| Main Authors: | , , , , , |
|---|---|
| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
Nature Portfolio
2025-05-01
|
| Series: | Scientific Reports |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-02206-5 |
| Tags: |
Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
|
| _version_ | 1850124808829796352 |
|---|---|
| author | Tin Zar Tun Kaung Myat Thwin Sachiko Takehara Kumiko Minagawa Noboru Kaneko Hiroshi Ogawa |
| author_facet | Tin Zar Tun Kaung Myat Thwin Sachiko Takehara Kumiko Minagawa Noboru Kaneko Hiroshi Ogawa |
| author_sort | Tin Zar Tun |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Dental checkups are integral to maintaining oral function in older adults and are a critical determinant of overall health and quality of life. However, their impact on oral function parameters remains understudied. This study investigated the association between dental checkup attendance and oral function in older adults. This cross-sectional study recruited a convenience sample of 235 older adults (75.1 ± 5.6 years, 125 males). Participants were categorized based on biannual dental checkup attendance. Seven oral parameters were assessed: oral cleanliness, oral dryness, occlusal support, oral motor function, tongue pressure, masticatory performance, and swallowing function. Statistical analyses included the Mann‒Whitney U test, chi-squared test, and linear regression analysis. Significant differences between attendees and non-attendees were found in sex, body mass index, and oral hygiene practices. Oral cleanliness (p = 0.005), masticatory performance (p < 0.001), and swallowing function (p = 0.001) were significantly better in checkup attendees. Non-attendance at dental checkups was consistently associated with the extent of declined oral function in crude (B:0.45; 95%CI:0.12,0.77) and fully adjusted models (B:0.56; 95%CI:0.16,0.97). Given the positive association between dental checkup non-adherence and declined oral function, encouraging community-based awareness campaigns with accessible dental care could promote checkup attendance. Consequently, it contributes to maintaining oral function in the older adult population. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-115f27869db54b568e35fba19db710be |
| institution | OA Journals |
| issn | 2045-2322 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-05-01 |
| publisher | Nature Portfolio |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Scientific Reports |
| spelling | doaj-art-115f27869db54b568e35fba19db710be2025-08-20T02:34:14ZengNature PortfolioScientific Reports2045-23222025-05-0115111010.1038/s41598-025-02206-5Impacts of dental checkups on oral function among Japanese older adultsTin Zar Tun0Kaung Myat Thwin1Sachiko Takehara2Kumiko Minagawa3Noboru Kaneko4Hiroshi Ogawa5Division of Preventive Dentistry, Department of Oral Health Science, Faculty of Dentistry & Graduate School of Medical and Dental Sciences, Niigata UniversityDivision of Preventive Dentistry, Department of Oral Health Science, Faculty of Dentistry & Graduate School of Medical and Dental Sciences, Niigata UniversityDivision of Preventive Dentistry, Department of Oral Health Science, Faculty of Dentistry & Graduate School of Medical and Dental Sciences, Niigata UniversityDivision of Preventive Dentistry, Department of Oral Health Science, Faculty of Dentistry & Graduate School of Medical and Dental Sciences, Niigata UniversityDivision of Preventive Dentistry, Department of Oral Health Science, Faculty of Dentistry & Graduate School of Medical and Dental Sciences, Niigata UniversityDivision of Preventive Dentistry, Department of Oral Health Science, Faculty of Dentistry & Graduate School of Medical and Dental Sciences, Niigata UniversityAbstract Dental checkups are integral to maintaining oral function in older adults and are a critical determinant of overall health and quality of life. However, their impact on oral function parameters remains understudied. This study investigated the association between dental checkup attendance and oral function in older adults. This cross-sectional study recruited a convenience sample of 235 older adults (75.1 ± 5.6 years, 125 males). Participants were categorized based on biannual dental checkup attendance. Seven oral parameters were assessed: oral cleanliness, oral dryness, occlusal support, oral motor function, tongue pressure, masticatory performance, and swallowing function. Statistical analyses included the Mann‒Whitney U test, chi-squared test, and linear regression analysis. Significant differences between attendees and non-attendees were found in sex, body mass index, and oral hygiene practices. Oral cleanliness (p = 0.005), masticatory performance (p < 0.001), and swallowing function (p = 0.001) were significantly better in checkup attendees. Non-attendance at dental checkups was consistently associated with the extent of declined oral function in crude (B:0.45; 95%CI:0.12,0.77) and fully adjusted models (B:0.56; 95%CI:0.16,0.97). Given the positive association between dental checkup non-adherence and declined oral function, encouraging community-based awareness campaigns with accessible dental care could promote checkup attendance. Consequently, it contributes to maintaining oral function in the older adult population.https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-02206-5Oral function declineDental checkupsOlder adultAgedOutpatientJapan |
| spellingShingle | Tin Zar Tun Kaung Myat Thwin Sachiko Takehara Kumiko Minagawa Noboru Kaneko Hiroshi Ogawa Impacts of dental checkups on oral function among Japanese older adults Scientific Reports Oral function decline Dental checkups Older adult Aged Outpatient Japan |
| title | Impacts of dental checkups on oral function among Japanese older adults |
| title_full | Impacts of dental checkups on oral function among Japanese older adults |
| title_fullStr | Impacts of dental checkups on oral function among Japanese older adults |
| title_full_unstemmed | Impacts of dental checkups on oral function among Japanese older adults |
| title_short | Impacts of dental checkups on oral function among Japanese older adults |
| title_sort | impacts of dental checkups on oral function among japanese older adults |
| topic | Oral function decline Dental checkups Older adult Aged Outpatient Japan |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-02206-5 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT tinzartun impactsofdentalcheckupsonoralfunctionamongjapaneseolderadults AT kaungmyatthwin impactsofdentalcheckupsonoralfunctionamongjapaneseolderadults AT sachikotakehara impactsofdentalcheckupsonoralfunctionamongjapaneseolderadults AT kumikominagawa impactsofdentalcheckupsonoralfunctionamongjapaneseolderadults AT noborukaneko impactsofdentalcheckupsonoralfunctionamongjapaneseolderadults AT hiroshiogawa impactsofdentalcheckupsonoralfunctionamongjapaneseolderadults |