Non-Cochrane · aetiology · PM42136531
Association of Social Support With Oral Health in Older Adults: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.
Pojmonpiti Sungkrit, Syed Saif S, Srinivasan Murali, et al. · Gerodontology · 2026 · PubMed · doi:10.1111/ger.70072
Findings
Population Older adults aged 75 years and over
21 findings
| Low functional social support | High functional social support | Lacking functional dentition (fewer than 20 teeth) Cross-sectional · Community-dwelling and institutionalised older adults · Functional support network | OR 1.03 [0.78, 1.35] GRADE not reported 2 studies · 22269 participants |
| Low functional social support | High functional social support | Lacking functional dentition (fewer than 20 teeth) Cross-sectional · Community-dwelling and institutionalised older adults · Overall | OR 1.02 [0.97, 1.08] GRADE not reported 3 studies · 27199 participants |
| Low functional social support | High functional social support | Non-regular dental service use Cross-sectional · Community-dwelling and institutionalised older adults · Overall | OR 1.2 [1.17, 1.23] GRADE not reported 2 studies |
| Low functional social support | High functional social support | Edentulism Cross-sectional · Community-dwelling and institutionalised older adults · Overall | OR 1.21 [1.15, 1.27] GRADE not reported 2 studies · 1075 participants |
| Low structural social support (low social participation) | High structural social support (high social participation) | Lacking functional dentition (fewer than 20 teeth) Cross-sectional · Community-dwelling and institutionalised older adults · Overall (social participation) | OR 1.35 [0.02, 112.2] GRADE not reported 2 studies · 18606 participants |
| Low structural social support (living alone or unmarried) | Living with others or married (cohabiting) | Edentulism Cross-sectional · Community-dwelling and institutionalised older adults · Community-dwelling populations | OR 1.48 [1.13, 1.94] GRADE not reported 4 studies |
| Low structural social support (living alone or unmarried) | Cohabiting or married | Oral health-related quality of life Marital status; OHIP-14 Unresolved: the two extractors disagree on this row. | SMD -0.08 [-0.32, 0.16] GRADE not reported 2 studies · 1063 participants |
| Low structural social support (living alone or unmarried) | Living with others or married (cohabiting) | Lacking functional dentition (fewer than 20 teeth) Cross-sectional · Community-dwelling and institutionalised older adults · Living situation | OR 1.29 [1.15, 1.46] GRADE not reported 3 studies · 9223 participants |
| Low structural social support (living alone or unmarried) | Living with others or married (cohabiting) | Edentulism Cross-sectional · Community-dwelling and institutionalised older adults · Overall | OR 1.34 [1.02, 1.75] GRADE not reported 6 studies · 13190 participants |
| Low structural social support (living alone or unmarried) | Living with others or married (cohabiting) | Lacking functional dentition (fewer than 20 teeth) Cross-sectional · Community-dwelling and institutionalised older adults · Overall | OR 1.41 [1.2, 1.67] GRADE not reported 5 studies · 15259 participants |
| Low structural social support (living alone or unmarried) | Cohabiting or married | Edentulism Sensitivity analysis excluding Dai 2023; living situation | OR 1.27 [0.49, 3.26] GRADE not reported 2 studies · 3295 participants |
| Low structural social support (living alone or unmarried) | Living with others or married (cohabiting) | Edentulism Cross-sectional · Community-dwelling and institutionalised older adults · Marital status | OR 1.56 [1.12, 2.16] GRADE not reported 3 studies · 4492 participants |
| Low structural social support (living alone or unmarried) | Cohabiting or married | Lacking functional dentition (fewer than 20 teeth) Community-dwelling populations Unresolved: the two extractors disagree on this row. | OR 1.33 [0.83, 2.15] GRADE not reported 3 studies · 4343 participants |
| Low structural social support (living alone or unmarried) | Living with others or married (cohabiting) | Lacking functional dentition (fewer than 20 teeth) Cross-sectional · Community-dwelling and institutionalised older adults · Marital status | OR 1.57 [0.76, 3.25] GRADE not reported 2 studies · 6036 participants |
| Low structural social support (living alone or unmarried) | Cohabiting or married | Lacking functional dentition (fewer than 20 teeth) Community-dwelling and institutionalised populations | OR 1.45 [0.54, 3.87] GRADE not reported 2 studies · 10916 participants |
| Low structural social support (living alone or unmarried) | Cohabiting or married | Oral health-related quality of life Community-dwelling populations Unresolved: the two extractors disagree on this row. | SMD 0.10 [-0.01, 0.21] GRADE not reported 2 studies · 1697 participants |
| Low structural social support (living alone or unmarried) | Living with others or married (cohabiting) | Mean number of missing teeth Cross-sectional · Community-dwelling and institutionalised older adults · Overall (marital status) | MD 1.58 [-1.29, 4.45] GRADE not reported 2 studies · 663 participants |
| Low structural social support (living alone or unmarried) | Cohabiting or married | Edentulism Sensitivity analysis excluding Dai 2023; marital status | OR 1.56 [1.12, 2.16] GRADE not reported 3 studies · 4492 participants |
| Low structural social support (living alone or unmarried) | Living with others or married (cohabiting) | Edentulism Cross-sectional · Community-dwelling and institutionalised older adults · Living situation | OR 1.15 [0.77, 1.72] GRADE not reported 3 studies · 8698 participants |
| Low structural social support (living alone or unmarried) | Living with others or married (cohabiting) | Oral health-related quality of life Cross-sectional · Community-dwelling and institutionalised older adults · Overall | SMD 0 [-0.2, 0.2] GRADE not reported 3 studies |
| Low structural social support (living alone or unmarried) | Cohabiting or married | Edentulism Sensitivity analysis excluding Dai 2023 | OR 1.45 [1.14, 1.86] GRADE not reported 5 studies · 7787 participants |
Included primary studies 40
Open in Studies| Study | Year | Also included by | Outcomes it informs here | Trial data |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Liang et al. 2020 Impact of periodontal disease and chewing ability on the quality of life of the elderly in an affluent community. PMID:31982268 | 2020 | 2 other reviews | not stated | not extracted yet |
| Thorstensson et al. 2010 Why do some people lose teeth across their lifespan whereas others retain a functional dentition into very old age? PMID:19545321 | 2010 | 2 other reviews | not stated | not extracted yet |
| Aida et al. 2011 The association between neighborhood social capital and self-reported dentate status in elderly Japanese--the Ohsaki Cohort 2006 Study. PMID:21091754 | 2011 | 1 other review | Lacking functional dentition (fewer than 20 teeth) | not extracted yet |
| Brothwell et al. 2008 Dental service utilization by independently dwelling older adults in Manitoba, Canada. PMID:18353200 | 2008 | 1 other review | not stated | not extracted yet |
| Castrejón‐Pérez et al. 2017 Negative impact of oral health conditions on oral health related quality of life of community dwelling elders in Mexico city, a population… PMID:27150729 | 2017 | 1 other review | Oral health-related quality of life | not extracted yet |
| Chan et al. 2025 Role of social capital on edentulism, social participation and cognition. PMID:41072900 | 2025 | 1 other review | not stated | not extracted yet |
| Dai et al. 2023 Tooth loss, denture use, and all-cause and cause-specific mortality in older adults: a community cohort study. PMID:37342280 | 2023 | 1 other review | Edentulism; Lacking functional dentition (fewer than 20 teeth) | not extracted yet |
| Edman et al. 2016 Prevalence of dental caries and influencing factors, time trends over a 30-year period in an adult population. Epidemiological studies… PMID:27215270 | 2016 | 1 other review | not stated | not extracted yet |
| Ferreira et al. 2008 Tooth loss, denture wearing and associated factors among an elderly institutionalised Brazilian population. PMID:18282145 | 2008 | 1 other review | Edentulism | not extracted yet |
| Ganbavale et al. 2024 Neighborhood Deprivation and Changes in Oral Health in Older Age: A Longitudinal Population-Based Study. PMID:38414259 | 2024 | 1 other review | not stated | not extracted yet |
| Hatta et al. 2018 Influence of lack of posterior occlusal support on cognitive decline among 80-year-old Japanese people in a 3-year prospective study. PMID:30295988 | 2018 | 1 other review | not stated | not extracted yet |
| Heegard et al. 2011 Amount and type of alcohol consumption and missing teeth among community-dwelling older adults: findings from the Copenhagen Oral Health… PMID:22320290 | 2011 | 1 other review | Lacking functional dentition (fewer than 20 teeth) | not extracted yet |
| Holm‐Pedersen et al. 2006 Periodontal disease in the oldest-old living in Kungsholmen, Sweden: findings from the KEOHS project. PMID:16677325 | 2006 | 1 other review | not stated | not extracted yet |
| Hsu et al. 2014 Masticatory factors as predictors of oral health-related quality of life among elderly people in Kaohsiung City, Taiwan. PMID:24241772 | 2014 | 1 other review | not stated | not extracted yet |
| Hunt et al. 1985 Edentulism and oral health problems among elderly rural Iowans: the Iowa 65+ rural health study. PMID:3898879 | 1985 | 1 other review | Edentulism | not extracted yet |
| Inomata et al. 2017 Dietary Intake Is Associated with Occlusal Force Rather Than Number of Teeth in 80-y-Old Japanese. PMID:30931780 | 2017 | 1 other review | not stated | not extracted yet |
| Islas‐Granillo et al. 2014 Salivary Parameters (Salivary Flow, pH and Buffering Capacity) in Stimulated Saliva of Mexican Elders 60 Years Old and Older. PMID:25867562 | 2014 | 1 other review | not stated | not extracted yet |
| Islas‐Granillo et al. 2016 Tooth-Loss Experience and Associated Variables among Adult Mexicans 60 Years and Older. PMID:27232870 | 2016 | 1 other review | Mean number of missing teeth | not extracted yet |
| Jensen et al. 2008 Factors associated with oral health-related quality of life in community-dwelling elderly persons with disabilities. PMID:18284537 | 2008 | 1 other review | not stated | not extracted yet |
| Kim et al. 2009 Chewing function impacts oral health-related quality of life among institutionalized and community-dwelling Korean elders. PMID:19681982 | 2009 | 1 other review | Oral health-related quality of life | not extracted yet |
| Kim et al. 2018 Social capital and oral health: The association of social capital with edentulism and chewing ability in the rural elderly. PMID:29065366 | 2018 | 1 other review | Edentulism | not extracted yet |
| Komiyama et al. 2016 Association Between Tooth Loss, Receipt of Dental Care, and Functional Disability in an Elderly Japanese Population: The Tsurugaya Project. PMID:27801931 | 2016 | 1 other review | Edentulism; Lacking functional dentition (fewer than 20 teeth); Non-regular dental service use | not extracted yet |
| Lundgren et al. 1995 Oral complaints and utilization of dental services in relation to general health factors in a 88-year-old Swedish population. PMID:9084294 | 1995 | 1 other review | not stated | not extracted yet |
| Musacchio et al. 2007 Tooth loss in the elderly and its association with nutritional status, socio-economic and lifestyle factors. PMID:17453425 | 2007 | 1 other review | Edentulism; Lacking functional dentition (fewer than 20 teeth) | not extracted yet |
| Niesten et al. 2017 Oral health care behavior and frailty-related factors in a care-dependent older population. PMID:28380347 | 2017 | 1 other review | Non-regular dental service use | not extracted yet |
| Osterberg et al. 1995 Dental state and functional capacity in 75-year-olds in three Nordic localities. PMID:7472739 | 1995 | 1 other review | not stated | not extracted yet |
| Qi et al. 2023 Social isolation, loneliness and accelerated tooth loss among Chinese older adults: A longitudinal study. PMID:35040179 | 2023 | 1 other review | not stated | not extracted yet |
| Rapp et al. 2017 Oral Health and the Frail Elderly. PMID:28721433 | 2017 | 1 other review | not stated | not extracted yet |
| Rocha‐Ortiz et al. 2023 Tooth Loss and Associated Factors in Mexican Older Adults in Nursing Homes: A Multicenter Cross-Sectional Study. PMID:37096226 | 2023 | 1 other review | not stated | not extracted yet |
| Syrjälä et al. 2010 Number of teeth and selected cardiovascular risk factors among elderly people. PMID:19702670 | 2010 | 1 other review | Edentulism; Lacking functional dentition (fewer than 20 teeth) | not extracted yet |
| Tsakos et al. 2009 The impact of educational level on oral health-related quality of life in older people in London. PMID:19583757 | 2009 | 1 other review | Oral health-related quality of life | not extracted yet |
| Wright et al. 2018 Oral health of community-dwelling older Australian men: the Concord Health and Ageing in Men Project (CHAMP). PMID:28853154 | 2018 | 1 other review | Mean number of missing teeth | not extracted yet |
| Wu et al. 2018 Oral Health Indicators for Risk of Malnutrition in Elders. PMID:29380853 | 2018 | 1 other review | not stated | not extracted yet |
| Yanagisawa et al. 2023 [Psychosocial mediators between socioeconomic status and oral health among urban-dwelling older adults]. PMID:37032068 | 2023 | 1 other review | not stated | not extracted yet |
| Yang et al. 2022 Socioeconomics, health-related factors, and tooth loss among the population aged over 80 years in China. PMID:35247999 | 2022 | 1 other review | Lacking functional dentition (fewer than 20 teeth) | not extracted yet |
| Zini et al. 2008 The effect of oral health on quality of life in an underprivileged homebound and non-homebound elderly population in Jerusalem. PMID:18005351 | 2008 | 1 other review | not stated | not extracted yet |
| Zini et al. 2011 The association between demographic and oral health-related quality of life factors and dental care attendance among underprivileged older… PMID:21672115 | 2011 | 1 other review | not stated | not extracted yet |
| Avlund et al. 2003 Social relations as determinants of oral health among persons over the age of 80 years. PMID:14986913 | 2003 | this review only | not stated | not extracted yet |
| Takahashi et al. 2023 Social Isolation/Loneliness and Tooth Loss in Community-Dwelling Older Adults: The Sukagawa Study. PMID:37497340 | 2023 | this review only | Lacking functional dentition (fewer than 20 teeth) | not extracted yet |
| Takeda et al. 2025 Relationship Between Oral Function and Social Participation Among Community-Dwelling Older Adults: An Observational Cross-Sectional Study DOI:10.3390/healthcare13182271 | 2025 | this review only | not stated | not extracted yet |
Overlap with other reviews
Reviews that include the same primary studies are not independent evidence. Shared counts match studies by PMID, DOI or NCT, and otherwise by author and year (a probable match). Only the non-Cochrane dental reviews have study lists, so overlap with Cochrane reviews is not counted yet.
Review question
| Element | Planned (methods) | Found (results) |
|---|---|---|
| Population | Older adults aged 75 years or older (or mean age 74.5 years or older) | Older adults aged 75 years and over; mostly community-dwelling, 5 institutionalised, 11 mixed studies (n=40 studies) |
| Intervention | Exposure: lack of social support (functional, structural, perceived) | Low functional, structural (social participation, living conditions) and perceived (loneliness, neighbourhood) social support |
| Comparison | Adequate or strong social support | High social support; cohabiting or married |
| Outcomes | Oral health: dentition status, oral conditions, oral function, oral health behaviours, OHRQoL | Dentition status (23 studies); oral conditions (9); oral function (5); oral health behaviours (7); OHRQoL (8) |
| Study designs | Observational or interventional studies with quantitative oral health data | Mostly cross-sectional data; 3 cohort studies; 17 studies in meta-analysis |
| Timing | Not specified | Not specified |