A Primitive Study on Relationships between Dental Function and Physical Function : Physique of the Elderly Males

In this paper, the relationships between physical function or physique, and dental function variables were investigated. Twenty two elderly volunteers(mean age=73.4; SD=3.54 years) participated as subjects in this quasi-experimental survey. The code names in this article represent the measurement as follows. DMFT(= Total number of decayed(D), missing(M), and treated(F) teeth), MT(=Number of missing teeth). GI(=Index for degree of gingival inflammation by visual inspection), PD(mm: -Depth of gingival sulcus or periodontal pocket examined with a dental probe), RPD(%: = Rate of number of teeth with periodontal pocket over 4mm depth per teeth presented), BI(%: = Index for degree of gingival inflammation determined by bleeding from gingival sulcus at touching with a dental probe), MI(= Index for degree of mobility of teeth), BF(R:L)(kg:= Maximum biting force in each side), VSAL(ml/min: - Volume of saliva secreted per minute) and PLQ(-Index for degree of plaque retention on teeth, which reflects individual daily food intake style and cleaning habits and technic of mouth). Concerning gum tissue, the following positive correlationships with physical function variables were observed DMFT and blinded balance in place; GI and standing height; BI and standing height; MI and blinded balance; PLQ and blinded balance. Many investigations have previously suggested that a correlations between grip strength and dental indexes existed, and it would seem to follow that the correlation with dental indexes also exists for sense of balance concerning the elderly