From 7,654 records, 24 studies with 1,711 adults aged at least 65 and prosthesis use for six months were included. Fourteen studies assessed mastication and bite force. Complete dentures gave modest gains, while implant overdentures produced higher performance and bite force with more consistent long-term improvement. Across 18 PROM studies, implant overdentures and fixed full-arch prostheses produced the largest oral-health quality-of-life gains; complete and removable partial dentures had smaller positive changes. Subjective chewing improved over 6-12 months with high heterogeneity.
Key findings
- Twenty-four studies and 1,711 people; modest function with complete dentures; stronger MP and MBF with implant overdentures; largest OHRQoL gains with implant or fixed full-arch; inconsistent OHIP-14 and high heterogeneity.
Why this matters globally
The results support shared decisions in aging populations: implants may improve function and quality of life but must be balanced against surgery, maintenance, cost, anatomy and self-care capacity.
Thai researcher contribution
Frauke Müller is affiliated with Chulalongkorn University in an international gerodontology network, linking a Thai institution to evidence synthesis for older adults.
Limitations to consider
Many studies used pre-post designs without randomized comparators and are vulnerable to adaptation and selection; implant recipients may be healthier or wealthier. Heterogeneity spans prostheses, baseline, measures and follow-up; PROM instruments differ; and risk of bias, harms and cost are not summarized in the abstract.
Verify the original sources
GerodontologyRead the original article↗DOI: 10.1111/ger.70078