Evidence map›Paper›PMID 40442493›Full record

SynthesisEvidence-based dentistry2025

Dentures and the oral microbiome: Unraveling the hidden impact on edentulous and partially edentulous patients - a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Seenivasan Madhan Kumar, Shanmuganathan Natarajan, Sridharan Ks, Senthil Kumar Sundarajan, Parthasarathy Natarajan, A Selva Arockiam

Abstract readSystematic ReviewMeta-Analysis
PubMed Publisher
In one paragraph

Synthesis in Evidence-based dentistry, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 4 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
4citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

4 citing papers in PubMed.

  1. Review
  2. Tregs and persistentFrontiers in oral health · 2026
    Article
  3. Article
  4. Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

6 authors.

Seenivasan Madhan KumarDepartment of Prosthodontics Sri Ramachandra Dental College and Hospital, SRIHER, Chennai, India. madhankumar.s@sriramachandra.edu.in.
Shanmuganathan NatarajanDepartment of Prosthodontics Sri Ramachandra Dental College and Hospital, SRIHER, Chennai, India.
Sridharan Kslaboratory medicine, SRIHER, Chennai, India.
Senthil Kumar SundarajanLuminous Biopharma Private Limited, Chennai, India.
Parthasarathy NatarajanDepartment of Prosthodontics Sri Ramachandra Dental College and Hospital, SRIHER, Chennai, India.
A Selva ArockiamDepartment of orthodontics, Private practitioner, Virudhachalam, India.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0003-1986-248X

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

objectiveThis systematic review and meta-analysis evaluate the impact of edentulism and denture use on the oral microbiome, focusing on microbial diversity, colonization and biofilm formation in completely and partially edentulous patients.

methodsA comprehensive search was conducted across five databases (PubMed-Medline, Scopus, Embase, Lilacs, and Google Scholar) until June 1, 2024. Randomized and non-randomized clinical trials, observational studies, and cohort studies were included. Data extraction and risk of bias assessment followed PRISMA guidelines. Meta-analysis was performed using STATA and R software with a random effects maximum likelihood model. Microbial co-occurrence networks, heatmaps, and longitudinal trends were analyzed, with heterogeneity assessed using Higgin's I² (substantial heterogeneity defined as I² > 50%).

resultsThirty-two studies met the inclusion criteria. The oral microbiome in edentulous patients differed significantly from dentate individuals, influenced by denture materials, design, and time. Veillonella abundance in acrylic complete dentures was 13.63% (95% CI = -0.04, 27.29), I² = 90.98%, compared to 49.10% (95% CI = -29.62, 115.81), I² = 99.47% in dentate patients. Candida albicans increased over time in acrylic dentures, from 63.13% (95% CI = 48.93, 77.33), I² = 99.84% after insertion to 344.72 CFU/ml × 10² (95% CI = 139.19, 550.24), I² = 98.30% at nine months. Streptococcus mutans in CAD/CAM dentures increased from 45.54 CFU/ml × 10² (95% CI = 33.82, 57.25), I² = 87.26% at three months to 125.22 CFU/ml × 10² (95% CI = 38.25, 212.18), I² = 97.89% at nine months. Co-occurrence networks revealed strong Candida albicans-Streptococcus mutans synergy, while Fusobacterium nucleatum showed antagonistic interactions. Heatmaps demonstrated microbial dysbiosis in denture stomatitis cases, with increased Porphyromonas gingivalis and Candida albicans and reduced commensals. Longitudinal analyses highlighted the progressive dominance of opportunistic pathogens, emphasizing the need for early and consistent hygiene interventions.

conclusionDenture wearers exhibit distinct microbial communities influenced by biofilm formation, denture materials, and hygiene practices. Findings highlight the importance of antimicrobial denture materials and effective cleaning protocols in managing microbial colonization. Given high heterogeneity, standardized methodologies are essential for future research. Frequent professional cleaning and individualized hygiene strategies are necessary to prevent denture-associated infections and maintain oral health.

Indexed as

DenturesMicrobiotaMouthMouth, EdentulousBiofilmsDenture, CompleteHumans

Identifiers

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.