Effects of Health Status of Elderly Living Alone on Remaining Teeth

Objectives: This study identifies the effects of the health status of elderly living alone on remaining teeth to provide basic data that can be used in exercising proper health management. Methods/Statistical Analysis: The subjects for this study were 1,107 senior citizens living alone in Seoul, Korea. The demographical features and number of remaining teeth of research subjects were reviewed by calculating frequency and percentage. In order to examine the demographical characteristics and the remaining teeth impact factors per health status, multiple regression analysis was carried out. The explanatory power of the model was identified using the multiple Regression coefficients (R2). Findings: By gender, there were 376 (34.40%) male and 731 (66.0%) female senior citizens. For number of remaining teeth of research subjects, 716 (64.7%) had 11 to 15 teeth remaining. This group was followed by those with six to ten teeth at 293 people (26.5%), while 83 (7.5%) had less than five and 15 (1.4%) had 16 or more. Upon analyzing the impact factors of demographical features on remaining teeth, it was found that elderly women, younger age, higher education, and those with monthly incomes had more remaining teeth, and the explanatory power of variables was 84.2. For physical health status, those with good subjective physical health, no diabetes, and no osteoporosis had more remaining teeth. For mental health status, those with good subjective mental health, no depression, did not experience suicidal impulses, and less stress had more remaining teeth. For oral health status, those with good subjective oral health, no periodontal diseases, no dental carriers and no discomforts with mastication had more remaining teeth. Improvements/Applications: It is necessary to develop health care programs in order to help elderlies living alone to accurately perceive their health status, and to share with them the importance of remaining teeth.