Implant Overdentures in the Geriatric Population

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The Surgeon General’s report on oral health in America estimates that approximately 9.7% of the United States population over 18 years of age is edentulous.1,2 However, this figure increases to a staggering 33.1% when only individuals aged 65 year or older are considered. Furthermore, if geriatric individuals with single-arch edentulism are considered, the number rises to 50.4%.2 These statistics clearly demonstrate that is it this older population that is most afflicted by edentulism and consequences that may result from living with the condition.2 Improvements in dental care with a concurrent increase in the frequency of its use by the general population has lead to an overall decrease in the prevalence of edentulism. Yet, the elderly population is steadily increasing and these individuals require various forms of oral healthcare.2
A commonly implemented restorative treatment for single or double-arch edentulism is the conventional complete denture. Paradoxically, elderly patients often encounter difficulty with conventional tissue-born prostheses. An edentulous alveolar ridge will resorb over time due to the absence of physical loading.3 Elderly patients tend to have been edentulous for longer periods of time and are more inclined to exhibit greater alveolar ridge resorption. This type of ridge morphology lacks the ability to support, stabilize and retain a tissue-born prosthesis such as a compete denture.3 This phenomenon is most commonly seen in the mandibular prosthesis.3 Without proper support, stabilization and retention the patient will encounter difficulty functioning with the prosthesis. Improperly retained dentures ultimately lead to patient dissatisfaction and decreased oral heath-related quality of life.3-6
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13. Lecture by: Lillian M. Mitchell (University of Alabama at Birmingham School of Dentistry, Birmingham, AL) 2014 May 22.

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