Singh and Brennan identified risk factors for chewing disability in an older adult. These can be used to screen an older adult for chewing difficulties. The authors are from the University of Adelaide in Australia.
Patient selection: 60 to 71 years of age
Outcome: chewing disability
Parameters:
(1) number of teeth
(2) painful aching in mouth
(3) loose tooth
Parameter
Finding
Points
number of teeth
>= 21
0
< 21
1 (odds ratio 4.2)
painful aching in mouth
never or hardly over
0
occasionally or often
1 (odds ratio 4.9)
loose tooth
never or hardly ever
0
sometimes or often
1 (odds ratio 4.5)
number of risk factors for chewing disability =
= SUM(number of points)
Interpretation:
• minimum number of risk factors: 0
• maximum number of risk factors: 3
• The risk of chewing disability increases with the number of risk factors.
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