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Relationship Between Dental Occlusion and Physical Fitness in an Elderly Population

^a Division of Preventive Dentistry, Department of Oral Health Science, Graduate School of Medical and Dental Sciences, Niigata University, Japan
^b Department of Oral Science, National Institute of Infectious Diseases, Tokyo, Japan
^c Department for Interdisciplinary Studies of Lifelong Sport and Physical Activity, National Institute of Fitness and Sports in Kanoya, Japan
^d Faculty of Culture and Education, Saga University, Japan
^e Division of Human Nutrition, National Institute of Health and Nutrition, Tokyo, Japan
^f Graduate School of Arts and Sciences, College of Arts and Sciences, University of Tokyo, Japan

Takayuki Yamaga, Division of Preventive Dentistry, Department of Oral Health Science, Graduate School of Medical and Dental Sciences, Niigata University, 2-5274, Gakkocho-Dori, Niigata, 951-8514, Japan E-mail: gamaya{at}dent.niigata-u.ac.jp.

Background. The relationship between physical fitness and dental health status in elderly adults is still unknown. The purpose of the present study is to examine the relationship between physical fitness and occlusal condition of natural teeth in the elderly population. The sample consisted of 591 individuals aged 70 years and 158 aged 80 years selected from the registry of residents in Niigata city.

Methods. Hand grip strength (kg), leg extensor strength (kg), leg extensor power (watts), stepping rate (time per 10 seconds), and one-leg standing time with eyes open (seconds) were measured. The Eichner index was used as a measurement of occlusal condition. It was based on existing natural tooth contacts between maxilla and mandible in the bilateral premolar and molar regions and determined the three groups of classification used. In comparing physical fitness with Eichner index, multiple regression models were developed to adjust for variables such as age, gender, height, body weight, past medical history, blood pressure, serum albumin concentration, presence of lower back pain, smoking habit, marital status, and education.

Results. Multiple regression analyses revealed that leg extensor power (R² = .627, p < .05), stepping rate (R² = .159, p < .05), and one-leg standing time with eyes open (R² = .179, p < .05) showed significant correlations with the Eichner index.

Conclusions. Leg extensor power, stepping rate, and one-leg standing time with eyes open are useful indicators in evaluating lower extremity dynamic strength, agility, and balance function, respectively. These findings suggest that dental occlusal condition is associated with lower extremity dynamic strength, agility, and balance function in elderly adults.