Impact of Complete Denture Use on Swallowing Function of Older Adults: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

The use of complete dentures (CDs) in edentulous individuals causes changes in the oral cavity and pharynx, potentially beneficially affecting swallowing function.

This systematic review and meta-analysis aimed to evaluate the immediate effects of CDs use on the swallowing function of older adults.

According to the PICO framework, the search strategy was applied in six databases, grey literature and trials registration databases to retrieve clinical trials comparing the swallowing function of older adults with and without CDs. Data were extracted, and the risk of bias was assessed using the Risk of Bias in Non-randomised Studies of Interventions (ROBINS-I) tool. Standard mean difference (SMD) and 95% confidence intervals (95% CI) were used in meta-analyses for hyoid, laryngeal and mandible displacements, oral (OTT) and pharyngeal transit time (PTT), posterior pharyngeal wall (PPW), upper oesophageal sphincter (UES) and tongue pressure (α = 0.05).

Ten articles were included in the systematic review. Videofluorography was the swallowing assessment method most used (n = 5). Most studies (n = 4) had a low risk of bias. Meta-analyses showed higher laryngeal displacement in horizontal (SMD = 0.30; 95% CI = 0.05-0.56) and vertical (SMD = 0.38; 95% CI = 0.06-0.69) directions, mandible displacement in the horizontal direction (SMD = 0.55; 95% CI = 0.22-0.89), and PPW contraction (SMD = 0.33; 95% CI = 0.07-0.58) without CDs than with CDs (p < 0.05). No significant differences were found for mandible displacement in the vertical direction, UES opening, OTT, PTT and tongue pressure (p > 0.05).

The use of CDs seems to restore the swallowing function among edentulous older adults in terms of laryngeal and mandible displacement, and PPW contraction.