Nutritional effects of implant therapy in edentulous patients--a systematic review.

PURPOSE: The aim of this study was to present all the relevant studies that have evaluated, with valid scientific methodology, the possible physical and nutrient intake improvement of edentulous subjects rehabilitated with removable and supported or retained implant denture, without restriction of suprastructure modalities, compared with those wearing conventional removable dentures.

METHODS AND MATERIALS: Several electronic databases (Pubmed, Medline-Medline In-Process, Cochrane Library Database, Embase, and Lilacs) were searched, without language limitation. References from the selected articles were also hand searched. Abstracts which appeared to fulfill the initial selection criteria (comparison of nutritional state between conventional removable and supported or retained implant denture wearers) were selected by consensus and their original articles were then retrieved. Clinical trials that included anthropometric measurements or nutrient intake in removable and supported or retained implant denture wearers without syndrome and systemic influences, nor presenting surgical or other simultaneous treatment, which could affect the integrity during the evaluation period were finally selected.

RESULTS

Only 5 articles met the selection criteria. Two studies (randomized clinical trials and prospective) found inadequate nutrient intake after treatment. One randomized clinical trial presented an improvement in nutritional state after treatment. One cross-sectional study showed an adequate nutritional state before and after treatment. These 4 studies found no significant difference between implant and conventional treatments. Finally, 1 cross-sectional study presented a difference between treatments, showing that the risk of malnutrition was higher for removable complete denture wearers.

CONCLUSION

Considering the available evidence, the effect on the nutritional state in edentulous subjects treated with implant therapy is similar to the 1 obtained with conventional removable dentures. This effect does not necessarily mean an optimum nutritional state, which also depends on other factors not related to prosthodontic treatment.