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Published on: December 31, 2017
Changes in the oral microbiota among dentate, edentate, and complete denture-wearing older adults: A systematic
Kittipit Srisanoi1, Ayushi Tiwari2, Murali Srinivasan3
1Clinic of General, Special Care, and Geriatric Dentistry, Center for Dental Medicine, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland; Division of Geriatric and Special Care Dentistry, Faculty of Dentistry, Khon Kaen University, Khon Kaen, Thailand.
Objective:
This systematic review investigated differences in the oral microbiome among dentate older adults, edentate older adults, and older adults wearing complete dentures (CDs).
Data And Sources:
Online databases (PubMed, Embase, and the Cochrane Library) were systematically searched. The last search update was on 16th April 2026.
Study Selection And Methods:
Studies were eligible if they reported on oral microbiome outcomes in older adults (≥65 years) who were dentate or edentate (with and without CDs). Meta-analyses were performed on studies comparing edentate versus dentate individuals and for studies evaluating pre- and post-CD insertion.
Results:
Fifteen studies (descriptive analysis: n = 10; meta-analysis: n = 5) were included from 444 identified records. Two studies reported lower microbial diversity and distinct microbial patterns in edentate individuals, with or without CDs, compared with dentate individuals. Two studies reported that individuals with denture stomatitis exhibited different microbial patterns from healthy CD wearers, suggesting microbial dysbiosis. The meta-analysis revealed that Porphyromonas gingivalis (p<0.001), Tannerella forsythia (p<0.001), Treponema denticola (p<0.001), and Prevotella intermedia (p<0.001) were less prevalent in edentate than dentate individuals; Porphyromonas gingivalis (p = 0.002) and Tannerella forsythia (p = 0.006) increased after CD insertion for a short term. Risk of bias ranged from low to moderate.
Conclusions:
The review concluded that edentate older adults had a distinct oral microbiome when compared with dentate older adults. Denture stomatitis in CD wearers was associated with microbial dysbiosis. The review further found that P. Gingivalis and T. Forsythia may reappear transiently in edentate older adults rehabilitated with CDs.
Clinical Significance:
In older adults, CD therapy requires consistent follow-up with an emphasis on maintaining optimal mucosal health and denture hygiene. Although longitudinal evidence on changes in species associated with periodontitis remains limited, the prevention and management of denture stomatitis-associated dysbiosis should be prioritized because it may contribute to inflammaging.
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