Masticatory Functionality, Comorbidities, and Depression in the Elderly Waiting for Dental Care

Introduction: Oral functionality is a concept that has recently been introduced into the scientific debate, with multiple geriatric considerations requiring analysis. Objective: To evaluate the relationship between Masticatory Functionality (MF), comorbidities, and depressive symptoms in adults aged 70 and older. Methods: A cross-sectional analytical study was conducted using data from a sample of older adults awaiting dental care enrolled in the FONIS SA20I00052 project at Hospital El Salvador (Chile). Eligible participants were aged ≥ 70 years, wore deficient dental prostheses, had no severe cognitive impairment, and provided informed consent. Masticatory function was assessed using the Eichner index, while comorbidities and depressive symptoms were evaluated using the Charlson Comorbidity Index and the 5-item Geriatric Depression Scale (5-GDS), respectively. Descriptive statistics and logistic regression models, adjusted for age and sex, were used to explore the associations. Results: The sample included 124 individuals (58.9% women; mean age, 81.2 ± 6.0 years). Most participants were classified as Eichner Class C (75.8%). Depressive symptoms were present in 27.4% of participants, and 57.3% had at least one comorbidity. Logistic regression showed no significant association between Eichner classification and depressive symptoms (OR = 1.79; 95% CI: 0.65–4.92; p = 0.257) or comorbidities (OR = 0.74; 95% CI: 0.31–1.73; p = 0.482). Conclusions: No statistically significant association was observed between masticatory function and either depressive symptoms or comorbidities in this population. These findings contrast with prior evidence and underscore the complexity of interactions between functional and psychological health in older adults.