The influence of implant-supported dentures on the nutritional status of elderly individuals A influência de dentaduras implanto-suportadas sobre o estado nutricional de indivíduos idosos

Mailing address: Giédre Berretin-Felix Departamento de Fonoaudiologia da Faculdade de Odontologia de Bauru, USP Al. Dr. Octávio Pinheiro Brisolla, 9-75 Bauru, São Paulo, Brasil CEP: 17012-901 E-mail: [email protected] ABSTRACT Purpose: the aim of this study was to evaluate the nutritional status of elderly individuals submitted to surgical-prosthetic oral rehabilitation procedures. Methods: fifteen patients completely edentulous aged 60 years or more were assessed (10 women and 5 men). All individuals wore removable dentures in both arches and had their mandibular dentures replaced by implant-supported prostheses, were submitted to nutritional evaluation comprising anthropometric aspects, biochemical blood analysis and dietary evaluation before surgery and at three and six months after surgery. Results: statistical analysis of the anthropometric evaluation did not reveal significant difference between the study periods, for all parameters investigated. The biochemical evaluation revealed a significant increase in albumin three months after dental treatment, returning to lower levels after six months. The dietary evaluation evidenced that the caloric intake, macronutrients proteins and carbohydrates was not altered after dental treatment. Conversely, the ingestion o lipids were lower six months after dental treatment compared to the previous results. Conclusion: therefore, the placement of implant-supported complete dentures in the elderly individuals investigated in this study did not modify the nutritional condition in the short term, suggests that the subjects maintained the previous dietary characteristics.