Elucidating the relationship between fever and molar occlusion in the elderly [Mayu Izumi, Lecturer, Department of Oral Health]

Research Projects

This study investigated the relationship between molar occlusal support and fever in residents of elderly care facilities. Fever is a common symptom in the elderly and is a burden not only on the individual but also on caregivers. While many cases of fever in the elderly are associated with aspiration pneumonia, and the association between oral hygiene and aspiration pneumonia is well known, the relationship between fever and oral function remains unclear. Therefore, we surveyed 141 individuals aged 65 and older living in 10 facilities in Kitakyushu City, evaluating their occlusal support using total functional tooth units (tFTU), and followed up the number of individuals who developed a fever of 37.2°C or higher for 8 months. As a result, 53 individuals developed fever, and participants with a tFTU of 12 had a significantly lower average number of fever days compared to participants with a tFTU of 0 or 1-11. Furthermore, participants with a tFTU score of 0 had a 3.2 times higher risk of fever compared to participants with a score of 12. These findings suggest that maintaining molar occlusal support may reduce the risk of fever in the elderly.

This research was published in "Gerodontology" in July 2022. This paper received the Lion Award (Outstanding Paper Award) from the Japanese Society of Geriatric Dentistry.

Glossary

Total Functional Tooth Unit (tFTU): This evaluates the occlusion of the molar region, including present teeth, fixed prostheses, and removable prostheses. Premolar occlusion is scored at 1 point, molar occlusion at 2 points, for a maximum of 12 points.
Aspiration pneumonia: When food or saliva enters the trachea, it is expelled by the cough reflex. However, if this function declines due to aging or other factors, food or saliva can enter the lungs (aspiration), and pneumonia can occur due to bacteria that may have been present.

Comments from researchers

As the elderly population increases, the challenge is how to extend healthy life expectancy by having multiple professions collaborate to take preventative measures before people require long-term care. This study is the first to demonstrate the significance of dental intervention at the pre-disease stage, showing that early dental visits for individuals with a low number of functional teeth can prevent future fevers. It also served as an opportunity to raise awareness among other professions about the importance of oral health and the importance of checking the occlusal relationships of molars.

Paper/researcher information

PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/33749006/
ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7325-9708
researchmap: https://researchmap.jp/izumi_maya