Complete dentures associated with frailty among edentulous older Japanese people: A prospective analysis

Objective

This study aimed to explore the cross-sectional and prospective associations between self-reported functionality of complete dentures (FCD), satisfaction with complete dentures (SCD) and the ability to chew hard food (ACHF) on the one hand and the frailty index (FI) on the other hand among edentulous community-dwelling older Japanese people.

Methods

The study examined 770 edentulous participants of the Nihon University Japanese Longitudinal Study of Aging. The self-reported FCD, SCD and ability to chew six groups of food (from hardest to softest) with complete dentures were the independent variables at the baseline. The FI was computed including 40 deficits as the dependent variable at the baseline and 4 years later. Cross-sectional and prospective generalized linear regression models were fitted controlling for age, gender, marital status, education, working status and area of residence.

Results

The use of non-functional complete dentures and dissatisfaction with complete dentures were both associated with a higher FI cross-sectionally (3.9% [95% CI 2.2–5.6] and 3.2% [95% CI 1.5–4.9], respectively) and prospectively (3.9% [95% CI 2.0–6.0] and 3.3% [95% CI 1.3–5.3], respectively). Regarding the ability to chew, a higher FI at baseline was observed among those able to chew food of Group 2 (1.9%, [95% CI 0.1–3.7]) and Groups 4–6 (1.9%, [95% CI 0.1–3.7]), and a progressive increment in the FI, as the participants reported being able to chew softer groups of food at the follow-up (Group 2: 2.2% [95% CI 0.05–4.3]; Group 3: 3.6% [95% CI 1.2–6.0]; and Groups 4–6: 3.4 [95% CI 0.7–6.1]).

Conclusion

Self-reported use of non-functional complete dentures, dissatisfaction with dentures and a reduced ACHF with complete dentures were associated with a higher FI both cross-sectionally and prospectively.