Relationship between body mass index and the remaining alveolar ridge

Severe residual ridge resorption may occur in individuals with either high or low mineral density in the skeleton. Heavy individuals with a heavy skeleton and a large percentage of fat in the body are less predisposed to osteoporosis than small individuals are. In addition, the jaws of heavy subjects are probably more massive and thick than the jaws of smaller individuals. The purpose of this study was to examine whether, after a long period of edentulousness, the size of the subject is associated with the height of the remaining alveolar ridge and difficulties in wearing complete dentures. The conclusions of this study suggest that the size of an individual may play an important role in the destiny of the residual ridges. Heavy subjects with large jaws have more bone substance to be lost. Wider supportive tissues in the mandible also may provide better possibilities for the use of complete dentures than do the jaws of small individuals.