ArticleBMC geriatrics2026
Oral function and physical function converge: national evidence linking functional teeth, scaling care, and muscle strength.
Article in BMC geriatrics, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.
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Abstract
backgroundTo examine the association between functional dentition and hand grip strength (HGS) in older adults and to assess whether this relationship is modified by dental implant status or recent preventive dental care, using nationally representative data from Korea.
methodsThis cross-sectional study involved analysis of data of 2,268 adults aged ≥ 65 years who participated in the 2022-2023 Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey. Functional dentition was defined as the total number of remaining natural and fixed prosthetic teeth and categorized as 0, 1-9, 10-19, or ≥ 20 teeth. Low HGS was defined as HGS < 28 kg in men and < 18 kg in women, according to the 2023 Korean Working Group on Sarcopenia criteria. Multivariable logistic regression models were sequentially adjusted for demographic, socioeconomic, behavioral, nutritional, and oral health factors. Effect modifications by implant status and recent dental scaling experience were assessed using stratified analyses and interaction terms.
resultsThe prevalence of low HGS declined progressively with the increasing number of functional teeth: from 38.9% among individuals with no functional teeth to 16.6% among those with ≥ 20 teeth (p for trend < 0.001). In fully adjusted models, participants with < 20 functional teeth had 1.6-2.5 times higher odds of low HGS compared with individuals with ≥ 20 teeth. The implant status did not significantly modify this association (p for interaction = 0.498). In contrast, recent dental scaling significantly modified the relationship (p for interaction = 0.030). An inverse association between functional teeth and HGS was observed only among individuals without scaling.
conclusionOur findings suggest a significant association between a reduced number of functional teeth and low HGS in older adults. While these results highlight the potential relevance of oral health to physical capacity, further longitudinal studies are required to clarify the temporal relationship and to determine whether preserving functional dentition may be associated with better physical function and a lower risk of subsequent functional decline.
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