24th Annual Student Research Conference
Lifestyle Behaviors Contributing to Retention of Permanent Teeth in the Elderly
Nicole M. Eckelkamp* and Taylor Kennedy
Dr. Joseph Visker, Faculty Mentor
The purpose of this study was to examine oral health habits among the elderly that may contribute to progressive tooth loss. Analyses were conducted on the behavioral factors in an elderly person s life (historically and currently) including dental visits, brushing habits, flossing habits, and soda consumption. Surveys were distributed to 24 participants, sixty-two years and older. Analysis included descriptive statistics and non-parametric tests, all conducted using SPSS 17.0. Non-parametric tests revealed a significant difference in teeth retention among those who did and did not floss. Frequency distributions revealed positive rates of elderly adult dental visits per year and positive oral health habits with 80% brushing their teeth at least once a day. While few differences in teeth retention were found among various oral health practices, this study does pave way for future retrospective examination of health-conducive oral care habits. Study limitations and recommendations for future research will be discussed.
Keywords: retention, teeth, elderly, lifestyles
Topic(s):Health Science
Biology
Presentation Type: Poster
Session: 10-11
Location: Georgian Room - SUB
Time: 4:30