Nutritional Outcomes of Overdentures vs. Complete Dentures in Older Edentulous Adults: A Systematic Review and Meta‐Analysis

TL;DR

This study compares how well implant-supported overdentures and traditional dentures help older adults with no teeth maintain good nutrition.

Contribution

The study provides a systematic review and meta-analysis on the nutritional benefits of overdentures versus complete dentures in older adults.

Findings

Overdenture users had higher vitamin B12 levels at 6 months.

No consistent differences were found for albumin or folate levels.

The evidence for nutritional benefits was rated as moderate to low due to methodological issues.

Abstract

To investigate whether implant‐supported overdentures provide nutritional advantages compared with conventional complete dentures in older edentulous adults, through a systematic review and meta‐analysis.

A comprehensive search was performed in PubMed/MEDLINE, Scopus, Web of Science, Cochrane Library, EMBASE, LILACS, LIVIVO and grey literature sources. Eligible studies included completely edentulous patients aged ≥ 60 years rehabilitated with overdentures or conventional complete dentures, with nutritional intake assessed using validated methods. Data extraction and risk of bias assessments were conducted independently by calibrated reviewers. Random‐effects meta‐analyses were performed, and the certainty of evidence was rated using GRADE.

Nine studies met the inclusion criteria, of which five were included in the quantitative synthesis. Overdenture users showed significantly higher vitamin B12 levels at 6‐month follow‐up (SMD = 0.60; 95% CI: 0.18–1.02; I2 = 54%), but no consistent differences were observed for albumin or folate. Overall certainty of the evidence was rated as moderate for vitamin B12 and albumin, and low for folate, due to methodological limitations, heterogeneity in outcome measures and small sample sizes.

While overdentures improve masticatory function and may transiently enhance vitamin B12 status, the current body of evidence does not support a consistent nutritional advantage over conventional dentures. High‐quality, long‐term trials are needed to clarify the systemic nutritional implications of prosthetic rehabilitation in older adults.

The Challenge of Edentulism: Older edentulous adults often face significant difficulties in chewing, leading to restrictions in their diet and potentially affecting their overall nutritional status. Rehabilitation Options: Two primary prosthetic rehabilitation methods were compared: conventional complete dentures and implant‐supported overdentures, aiming to restore masticatory function. Nutritional Outcomes: A systematic review and meta‐analysis of biochemical markers revealed that while overdentures may offer masticatory improvements, the nutritional benefits (e.g., albumin, folate) were not consistently superior to conventional dentures. A transient increase in Vitamin B12 was observed in the overdenture group at 6 months. Key Clinical Takeaway: Restoring chewing function through prosthetic rehabilitation alone is often insufficient to guarantee improved nutritional status. An interdisciplinary approach, integrating prosthetic treatment with professional nutritional counselling, is vital for optimising the health and well‐being of older edentulous patients.

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