Coronal Dental Caries in Relation to Cognitive Status among Retirees in Middle Euphrates Region ?Iraq

Background Cognitive impairment significantly affects the quality of daily living which compromises oral health in older adults including dental caries that remains the most important dental health problem in developing countries. The aim of this study was examination the association between cognitive status and coronal dental caries among retirees in Middle Euphrates Region-Iraq. Materials and methods The sample included 198 dentate retirees with 50 years old and older from the offices of (Qi-Cards) who completed the study cognitive measure using Self-Administered Gerocognitive Examination test (SAGE) and dental examination by application of DMFS index according to WHO criteria. Result The occurrence of dental caries among the retirees was 98.5 %. Data analysis showed that the means of DMFS and missing surfaces (MS) were statistically highly significant differ among retirees with different cognitive status. While the mean decayed surfaces (DS) and filled surfaces (FS) were highest among demenated retirees and Mild Cognitive Impairment group respectively however these differences were statistically not significant. Retirees with different scores of each domain of SAGE showed statistically significant differences with means of DMFS and missing surfaces (MS). Conclusion poorer cognitive ability was directly associated with poorer dental status, namely missing and total DMF surfaces.