Effects of dental implants on dietary and nutritional outcomes in older adults: a systematic review.

backgroundMaintaining oral health has become a major concern in preserving overall well-being and nutritional quality of life among older adults. The tooth loss is highly prevalent in them and can result in diminished chewing as well as inadequate food consumption. Dental implants offer a viable solution to restore function and potentially improve nutrition. This review systematically examined the impact of dental implants on dietary patterns and nutritional outcomes within the demographic of older adults.

methodsAn extensive literature search was conducted across six major databases, encompassing studies published in English between January 2004 and January 2024. The databases searched included SCOPUS, Web of Science, PubMed, Dentistry and Oral Science Source, The Allied and Complementary Medicine Database (AMED) and the Psychology and Behavioural Sciences Collection. Studies which incorporated the focus on older individuals who received dental implants and reported on dietary or nutritional outcomes were included. All records and extracted data were managed using Excel and Rayyan software to streamline organization and ensure transparency in the review process. The main outcomes evaluated were chewing ability, nutrient intake, anthropometric measures, and oral health-related quality of life. The study quality was assessed using the Mixed Methods Appraisal Tool (MMAT).

resultsFollowing a comprehensive search of six databases that initially yielded 3,229 records, eighteen studies which met the inclusion criteria. After removing 751 duplicates, 2,478 unique records underwent title and abstract screening, with 54 full texts were reviewed and 38 were excluded and 2 studies were identified through manual searching. The review found that dental implants generally led to improvements in chewing efficiency, with one study reporting an increase in bite force, supporting better masticatory function. One study reported a significant increase in bite force from the baseline after 52 weeks, indicating improved masticatory function following implant-supported prostheses. However, changes in anthropometric indicators and nutritional biomarkers were inconsistent. A study reported a 79% mitigation of total protein intake decline and 71% for animal protein intake with prostheses, whereas another study found no significant differences in fibre, energy, or micronutrient intake. The quality of the included studies assessed using the MMAT, revealed moderate to high methodological quality.

conclusionsCurrent evidence suggests improved mastication and patient satisfaction with implant-supported rehabilitation, while nutritional outcomes remain inconsistent. Patient satisfaction and oral health-related quality of life showed consistent improvement, but objective nutritional details showed variability. A multidisciplinary approach should be used to maximize treatment success with dietary counselling and long-term monitoring of nutritional status during prosthetic rehabilitation of edentulous/ partially dentate patients. PROSPERO REGISTRATION: This systematic review was pre-registered in the International Prospective Register of Systematic Reviews (PROSPERO) with the ID CRD42024593129 on October 01, 2024.