As with other pathologies, oral health has a direct relationship with cognitive decline and the development of dementias. However, what is perhaps more surprising is that the use of dental prostheses can be a preventive measure to preserve the cognitive health of people suffering tooth loss.
As we have explained in other articles, the use of dental prostheses has important benefits. After an initial adaptation process and the development of appropriate cleaning and conservation habits, new dentures can restore or improve functions such as facilitating the correct mastication of food or significantly improving speech.
These improvements undoubtedly have a positive impact on the quality of life and mood of edentulous people. But is it possible that the benefits of dentures go beyond these functional aspects?
Over the last few years, several studies have been published with results that point in this direction of proving that the use of dental prostheses could play an important role in the prevention of cognitive impairment.
Edentulism as a risk factor
The relationship between edentulism or tooth loss and psychophysical deterioration has already been studied by a group of researchers from University College London, based on a sample of more than 3,100 British adults over the age of 60.
The results of their research, published in 2015 in the Journal of the American Geriatrics Society, found that the loss of teeth had a direct relationship to psychophysical deterioration, such as walking at a slower pace or a progressive decline in the person’s brain functions.
In 2021, the results of a study conducted by a group of researchers from the NYU Rory Meyers College of Nursing were published in The Journal of Post-Acute and Long-Term Care Medicine (JAMDA). In their research, they concluded that tooth loss is a risk factor for cognitive decline, and that each missing tooth decreases brain function of the person.
Specifically, the results showed that people with greater tooth loss have a 1.28 times greater risk of developing dementia and a 1.48 times greater risk of developing cognitive impairment. Among the reasons, the researchers found that missing teeth lead to greater difficulties in chewing, which leads to poor nutrition resulting in nutritional deficiencies in the body.
Edentulism as a risk factor
The relationship between edentulism or tooth loss and psychophysical deterioration has already been studied by a group of researchers from University College London, based on a sample of more than 3,100 British adults over the age of 60.
The results of their research, published in 2015 in the Journal of the American Geriatrics Society, found that the loss of teeth had a direct relationship to psychophysical deterioration, such as walking at a slower pace or a progressive decline in the person’s brain functions.
In 2021, the results of a study conducted by a group of researchers from the NYU Rory Meyers College of Nursing were published in The Journal of Post-Acute and Long-Term Care Medicine (JAMDA). In their research, they concluded that tooth loss is a risk factor for cognitive decline, and that each missing tooth decreases brain function of the person.
Specifically, the results showed that people with greater tooth loss have a 1.28 times greater risk of developing dementia and a 1.48 times greater risk of developing cognitive impairment. Among the reasons, the researchers found that missing teeth lead to greater difficulties in chewing, which leads to poor nutrition resulting in nutritional deficiencies in the body.
Dentures as a preventative measure
Perhaps more surprising, is another finding of the study. The risk of cognitive decline was found to be lower among denture wearers, those who had been correcting their tooth decay, and those who had replaced missing teeth with dental implants.
More recently, another study led by the same team of researchers and published in the journal Aging Medicine in 2024 corroborated these findings. To do this, they analysed data from the Chinese Longitudinal Survey on Healthy Longevity for the years 2008 to 2018 based on more than 27,000 adults over the age of 65 who had lost their teeth.
The results of their research found that, compared to non-denture wearers, denture wearers maintained better cognitive function.
The overall conclusion from all these findings is that, as with other pathologies, oral health has a direct relationship with cognitive decline and the development of dementias.
Innovation in adapted prosthetic solutions
On many occasions people with mobility problems, or who live with cognitive impairment or other types of dementia such as Alzheimer’s disease, are unable or have great difficulty in travelling to a dental clinic.
That is why at Lura Care we have been working for more than 10 years specialising in home dentistry services. Our aim is to break down the mobility barrier in order to be able to attend to these people in their own place of residence, whether in a care home, day centre or in their private home.
Our teams of dentists specialise in caring for vulnerable people by travelling to homes with all the approved equipment necessary for treatment. This includes the production of dental prostheses which, thanks to our innovative technology, reduces disruption in the care process.
Through this new methodology, tested with resounding success in Spain where it is already a reality, we can not only avoid patient travel, but also shorten the process by performing a single prosthetic test.
This is a key aspect in the case of people with mobility problems or cognitive impairment, and we will soon be introducing this advance in our other operating centres in the UK and Italy.
In the past, a minimum of three prosthetic tests were required in order to finally deliver the dentures on a fourth visit, this was virtually impossible for many of them.
If you would like more information about the home treatments we offer at Lura Care, please do not hesitate to contact us.