Abstract
Objectives: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the association between denture satisfaction and perceived oral health among the elderly with removable denture. Methods: All 211 subjects aged 60 or more selected using convenience sampling were surveyed crosssectionally via the self-administrated questionnaire during February, 2006. The questionnaire was measured denture satisfaction and perceived oral health, and also obtained socio-demographic characteristics, oral health behaviors and denture characteristics. Bivariate analysis were applied to assess the crude associations. For the adjusted association between denture satisfaction and perceived oral health, multiple regression analysis was conducted. Results: Only 19% of the elderly perceived oral health that their was good. As perceived oral health status were better, the denture satisfaction were higher. Among the factors of denture satisfaction, masticatory function and denture retention were positively associated with the perceived oral health after adjusting for socio-demographic characteristics, oral health behaviors and denture characteristics in the regression model. Denture retention showed the highest impact of association with perceived oral health. Conclusions: Denture satisfaction such as masticatory function and denture retention are significantly associated with perceived oral health among the elderly. The findings of this study will be helpful to policy makers to design plans to increase the oral health related quality of life among the elderly with removable denture.