Objective: To analyze the associations between posterior tooth loss and masticatory performance, nutrition intake, and nutritional status in the elderly. Material and Methods: A total of 158 subjects aged 60 years and older from Depok, West Java, Indonesia were enrolled in this cross-sectional study. Posterior teeth contacts were assessed and the subjects were divided into two groups based on Eichner Index; group A2-B3 and group B4-C3. The masticatory performance test was conducted using color-changeable chewing gum. A semi-quantitative foodfrequency questionnaire was used to measure nutritional intake in the form of total calories, and the Mini-Nutritional Assessment-Short Form was used to measure nutritional status. Mann Whitney U test was used to determine differences in masticatory performance, nutrition intake, and nutritional status between the two groups. Results: Seventy-four percent of participants were female, and 26% were male. A significant difference in the mean masticatory performance score (p<0.001) was noted between Eichner group A2-B3 (5.66 ± 1.80) and B4-C3 (3.20 ± 1.25). However, no statistically significant difference in nutritional status and calorie intake were found between the two groups (p>0.05). Conclusion: Despite the adequacy of nutrition intake and nutrition status in this population, tooth replacement is necessary to improve masticatory performance in both groups.

Introduction: Despite being acknowledged as the second global burden of oral disease, periodontal disease has few epidemiologic studies in the literature, particularly for developing countries. Many previous studies have assessed the relationship between periodontal disease and oral health–related quality of life (OHRQoL), with patients attending dental clinic or hospitals rather than a general population. This study attempted to fill the knowledge gap in limited information about periodontal disease and OHRQoL, with reference to a general population in a developing country. Objectives: To investigate the relationship between OHRQoL and periodontal diseases in an older population in Indonesia. Methods: We invited 582 older people from community health centers. The 369 (63.4%) older people who agreed to participate consented to an oral health examination and a questionnaire capturing demographic, socioeconomic, behavioral, and Oral Health Impact Profile–14 (OHIP-14) data. Results: Almost 75% of the older people had generalized periodontitis; 3% had healthy periodontal status; and around 22% had localized periodontitis. There was a lack of statistical evidence for an association between periodontal disease status and OHRQoL. This result was based on the appraisal of the prevalence of the impact (Odds ratio [OR], 0.95 [95% CI, 0.54 to 1.59]; P = 0.77), difference in mean severities (0.07 [95% CI, –1.66 to 1.80]; P = 0.94), and extent of the impact (P = 0.996). However, we found evidence for a relationship between tooth mobility and OHRQoL for all of the OHIP assessments, including prevalence of the impact (OR, 1.87 [95% CI, 1.16 to 3.01]; P = 0.009), difference in mean severities (–2.98 [95% CI, –4.50 to –1.45]; P < 0.001), and extent of the impact (P = 0.001). Conclusion: There was a lack of statistical evidence for a relationship between periodontal disease status and OHRQoL in this society. However, we found evidence that tooth mobility, as a sign of periodontal disease progression, is related to OHRQoL. Knowledge Transfer Statement: The present study can be used by dentists, community health workers, and policy makers in Indonesia to understand the prevalence, severity, and extent of the negative impacts of periodontal disease on older people’s quality of life. In addition, this study provides information about factors that might considerably affect the oral health–related quality of life in this society, such as brushing habits, dental visit, family income, DMF-T status, and subjective appraisal toward dental health.