Gender and age group modified association of dental health indicators with total occlusal force among Korean elders

BACKGROUND: This study aimed to investigate the distribution of objective total occlusal force (TOF) and its association with dental health indicators: dental status, number of natural teeth (NT), natural and rehabilitated teeth, natural posterior teeth (NT-Post), and natural and rehabilitated posterior teeth among Korean elders after controlling for various confounders encompassing socio-demographic factors, behavioral factors and health/oral health factors. METHODS: This cross-sectional study recruited 551 elders from the Sungbook-Gu health education cohort. TOF was measured using Prescale II as an outcome variable. Dental health indicators assessed by dentists were the main explanatory variables. Analysis of covariance and multivariable linear regression models were applied to evaluate the adjusted association of dental health indicators with TOF. Gender and age group stratified analyses were also applied. RESULT: TOF was higher in dentate elders than denture wearers in males and younger elders. The adjusted mean of TOF and standard error was 464.24 ± 17.15 N for dentate elders, 297.15 ± 28.85 N for partial denture wearers, 280.42 ± 47.71 N for complete denture wearers. Among all dental health indicators, NT-Post showed the highest association with TOF (partial r = 0.330, p < 0.001, R(2) = 0.15), followed by NT (partial r = 0.329, p < 0.001, R(2) = 0.16). Older elders highlighted the association of NT (partial r = 0.37, p < 0.001, R(2) = 0.18). Males decreased the association of NT (partial r = 0.30, p < 0.001, R(2) = 0.20) and NT-Post (partial r = 0.29, p < 0.001, R(2) = 0.20). CONCLUSION: TOF was significantly associated with dental health indicators, and its association was modified by sex and age group.