Total tooth loss without denture wear is a risk indicator for difficulty eating among older adults with intellectual disabilities.

OBJECTIVES: This study tests whether total tooth loss is a risk indicator for difficulty eating among a population with intellectual disability and whether complete denture wear mediates this risk.

METHODS: Dentate status and difficulty eating was reported for a Nationally representative sample of 690 adults over forty with intellectual disabilities as part of The Intellectual Disability Supplement to The Irish Longitudinal Study on Ageing (IDS-TILDA). A logistic regression model tested the relationship between the Difficulty eating and Dentate status, controlling for the effects of other factors.

RESULTS: Of the 690 participants, 505 had some teeth (Group 1), 56 had no teeth and reported wearing dentures (Group 2) and 129 had no teeth, not using dentures (Group 3). A parsimonious regression model was developed including all 406 cases with no missing data. Adjusting for the effects of other factors, it was found that, compared to Group 1, the odds of difficulty eating was twice as great (OR=2.01, 95%CI=1.02-4.03) among people without teeth, not using dentures (Group 3). Conversely, edentulous participants who had dentures (Group 2) had far lower odds (OR =0.21, 95%CI=0.06-0.64) of reporting difficulty eating compared with Group 1.

CONCLUSIONS: For adults with ID, total tooth loss was predictive of difficulty eating only when untreated. People with disabilities should be encouraged to maintain a functional dentition through preventive and conservative treatment. When adults with ID become edentulous, oral rehabilitation may reduce the risk of difficulty eating. Dental assessment should be undertaken if people with ID present with difficulty eating. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.