Background & Aims: Tooth loss and using complete denture may have adverse effects on the nutritional status. Nutritional status of edentulous patients with or without complete denture has been evaluated in studies at several communities using different methods including anthropometric indices and different results have been obtained. The aim of the present study was to compare the nutritional status of complete denture wearers and persons with natural dentition based on some anthropometric indices in an Iranian population.

Materials & Methods: A total of 130 persons with age range of 60-80 years attending to Tabriz Dental Faculty in two groups of edentulous with conventional complete denture and dentate were compared based on socio-demographic, economic and general health status and anthropometric indices. For qualitative variables, Fischer's exact and Chi-square tests were used and to compare anthropometric indices, independent sample t-test was used.

Results: There was no meaningful difference in the most indices of socio-demographic, economic and general health status between two groups. The mean weight of edentulous patients was meaningfully higher than dentate patients while the mean heights had no difference. The BMI of edentulous patients (28.99 ± 5.77 kg/m2) was higher than dentate patients (25.06 ±3.79 kg/m2). The mean values of waist and mid upper arm circumferences were statistically higher in the edentulous patients.

Conclusion: Edentulous patients with complete denture have higher weight, BMI, waist and mid upper arm circumferences than dentate patients and are most prone to overweight and obesity.

SOURCE: URMIA MED J 2016: 27(1): 50 ISSN: 1027-3727