A 10-year longitudinal study of self-assessed chewing ability and dental status in 50-year-old subjects.

Chewing ability and dental status were assessed in 2 Swedish counties via questionnaires sent in 1992 and 2002 to all subjects born in 1942. Those who answered both questionnaires-at ages 50 and 60-were included in the study (n = 5,008). The proportion of those who reported chewing ability as very good decreased from 75% to 66% during the 10-year follow-up. Approximately 80% of complete denture wearers considered their chewing ability to be good. Chewing ability was reported to be worse at age 60 than at age 50, although there was only a minor impairment in dental status.