Dentures could potentially worsen a person’s nutritional intake, according to new research in the Journal of Prosthodontics. The research team examined electronic dental and health records to gain a better understanding of how oral health treatments affect individuals’ overall health over time.
This is first known study to link lab values of nutritional biomarkers to dental records.
Thankam Thyvalikakath, DMD, MDS, PhD, senior author, explained the impact of dentures. “Dentures are a significant change for a person. They do not provide the same chewing efficiency, which may alter eating habits. Dentists need to be aware of this and provide advice or a referral for nutrition counselling. These patients need support during the transition and possible continued monitoring.”
The researchers matched the dental records of more than 10 000 patients which included lab test data, including malnutrition markers. The data included complete blood count, basic metabolic profile and lipid and thyroid panel tests. Comparing the lab results from two years before a patient received dentures to the two years after, the researchers found that people with dentures had a significant decline in certain nutrition markers over those two years.
People who did not wear dentures did not experience this decline. While marker levels were still within normal range, but the levels could potentially fall as more time passes, and the researchers urged dentists to be aware of this possibility.
Future research will look at other factors that may influence nutrition, including insurance status and dental clinic characteristics.
Source: Regenstrief Institute
