Comparison of nutritional status of conventional complete denture wearers and individuals with natural dentition according to anthropometric criteria

Abstract

Dental status and its relationship to diet and nutritional status have been little explored. It is believed that dental status can affect diet, nutrition and health by changes in the types of food eaten, but little data exists to support this assumption. Meanwhile elderly edentulous denture wearers are vulnerable to compromised nutritional health due to various factors including: physiologic, psychosocial, oral, functional and medical. The aim of this study was to assess the nutritional status of edentulous individuals with conventional complete dentures in a group of elderly population and to compare that with the nutritional status of their dentate counterparts. Materials and Methods: A total of 130 elderly people with age range 60-80 years as two 65-member groups as edentate and dentate was chosen from patients attending to TabrizEs Dental School. The nutritional status of edentulous individuals with conventional complete dentures who reported regularly wearing their dentures and were satisfied with its masticatory function as edentate group and individuals with complete or nearly complete dentition as dentate group were evaluated. The needed data for the study were obtained from interviews, oral and dental examinations and anthropometric measurements. Data from the study were analyzed by descriptive statistical methods, the mean difference test for independent groups and Chi-Square test or Fisher's exact test. To compare the socio-demographic variables between two groups, independent sample t-test was used for quantitative variables and Chi-Square test or Fisher's exact test was used for qualitative variables, if there was any test assumptions. Results: Statistical analysis showed that after controlling for most of important confounding factors, the individuals in edentate group compared to their dentate counterparts, had higher mean body mass index, weight, waist circumference, and mid upper arm circumference and all of these differences were also statistically significant. Conclusion: The presence of conventional complete denture in edentulous elderly individuals even with desired masticatory function is not adequate for attain desired nutritional status.