Currently, there is no scale to subjectively assess postoperative oral dysfunction in patients with oral cancer. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the reliability and validity of the Postoperative Oral Dysfunction Scale (POD-10) that we developed. Between September 2019 and August 2021, 62 eligible oral cancer patients (median age, 72 years; 42 men and 20 women) were enrolled in the study. The Cronbach’s alpha coefficient, which indicates the internal consistency of the scale, was 0.94, and the intraclass correlation coefficient, which indicates reproducibility, was 0.85 (95% confidential interval: 0.40–0.96, p < 0.05). Concurrent validity testing showed a statistically significant correlation between POD-10 and Eating Assessment Tool (EAT-10) (r = 0.89, p < 0.05). To test discriminant validity, statistically significant differences were found between early-stage cancer (stage I and II) and advanced-stage cancer (stage III and IV) (p < 0.05). Twenty-four points were calculated as the cutoff value for POD-10 using receiver operating characteristic analysis to calculate the cutoff value. The POD-10 was shown to be a clinically reliable and valid scale that can be used to subjectively assess postoperative oral dysfunction in patients with oral cancer and is expected to be used as a simple diagnostic tool.

Background and Objectives: Pre-frailty is characterized by a lack of social interaction, mental instability, and decreased interest in health behaviors and oral health. Thus, this study aimed to explore the relationship between oral function and social participation among community-dwelling older adults. Methods: The study participants were community-dwelling older adults who underwent dental and oral health examinations and health checkups conducted by the Shimane Extended Union of the Medical Care System for Latter-Stage Elderly People between April 2020 and March 2022. General background data, oral health status, and social participation data were collected. Logistic regression analysis was performed as the primary analysis, with social participation as the objective variable. Results: The participants included 4196 cases, excluding 513 cases with missing data. Logistic regression analysis of the presence of going out at least once a week demonstrated significant correlations in age, lower leg circumference, masticatory function, and oral hygiene status (p < 0.05). Significant correlations were found in sex, lower leg circumference, masticatory function, swallowing function, and oral hygiene status for regular meetings with family or friends (p < 0.05). Conclusions: There may be an association between social participation and a decline in oral function and hygiene status among community-dwelling older adults.

The relationship between oral health status and bone mineral density has been poorly elucidated. We conducted a cross-sectional study to examine the relationship between oral health status and bone mineral density with data from healthy community-dwelling elderly individuals in Ohnan-cho, Shimane Japan who were recruited in 2019 for the Shimane Center for Community-Based Health Research and Education (CoHRE) study. The study included 702 participants (306 men and 396 women). The median age, bone mineral density, and number of remaining teeth were 69.0 years, 86.2%, and 26.0, respectively. The two groups (Low teeth group and High teeth group) showed significant differences in age, hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) level, and masticatory function in men (p < 0.05). In women, age, number of untreated teeth, and masticatory function were significantly different (p < 0.05). The odds ratio of propensity score analysis for the association between the number of remaining teeth and bone mineral density was 27.7 (95% confidence interval: 1.86–414.9, p < 0.05). The number of remaining teeth could be associated with bone mineral density in the healthy elderly women, and no significant association was observed in men. Number of remaining teeth and bone mineral density may be interrelated, and oral care by dentists/dental hygienists may play an important role in maintaining bone mineral density in elderly women.

The relationship between masticatory function and bone mineral density (BMD) is unclear. This cross-sectional study examined this relationship after adjusting for confounding factors. The subjects were 702 community-dwelling elderly adults (306 men, 396 women) who had been recruited for the Community-Based Healthcare Research and Education study in 2019. Objective masticatory function was assessed using the gummy jelly method. The median for each descriptive statistic was 69.0 years for age, 86.2% for the young adult mean, and 18.0 for masticatory function. Comparisons of the groups with good and poor masticatory function by sex revealed a significant difference in muscle mass and the tooth number for both sexes (p < 0.05). Men showed significant differences in age (p < 0.05) and salivary occult blood findings (p < 0.05). Multivariate analysis using propensity scores showed a significant association between masticatory function and BMD in both sexes (men: odds ratio 163.0, 95% confidence interval 1.36–19,610.55, p = 0.04; women: odds ratio 48.65, 95% confidence interval 1.52–1561.15, p = 0.03 in women). Masticatory function and BMD in the community-dwelling elderly may be related. However, other factors, including frailty and sarcopenia, may also be involved. Regular oral health care by dentists and dental hygienists may benefit this population.

This study aimed to examine the relationship between eating speed and hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c), considering the number of teeth, using cross-sectional health examination data from community-dwelling older individuals in Japan. We used data from the Center for Community-Based Healthcare Research and Education Study in 2019. We collected data on gender, age, body mass index, blood test results, Salt intake, bone mineral density, body fat percentage, muscle mass, basal metabolic rate, number of teeth, and lifestyle information. Eating speed was evaluated subjectively as fast, normal, or slow. Overall, 702 participants were enrolled in the study and 481 participants were analyzed. Multivariate logistic regression analysis revealed a significant association between fast eating speed and being a male (odds ratio [95% confidence interval]: 2.15 [1.02–4.53]), HbA1c (1.60 [1.17–2.19]), salt intake (1.11 [1.01–1.22]), muscle mass (1.05 [1.00–1.09]), and enough sleep (1.60 [1.03–2.50]). Fast eating may be associated with overall health and lifestyle. The characteristics of fast eaters, after taking oral information into consideration, tended to increase the risk of type 2 diabetes, renal dysfunction, and hypertension. Dental professionals should provide dietary and lifestyle guidance to fast eaters.

Yui Nanba, Yuhei Matsuda, Satsuki Watanabe, Mayu Takeda, Takafumi Abe, Kazumichi Tominaga, Minoru Isomura, Takahiro Kanno. JKAOMS 2023;49:243-51. https://doi.org/10.5125/jkaoms.2023.49.5.243