WEARING DENTURES MAY AFFECT A PERSON'S NUTRITION Dentures may have a potentially negative impact on a person's overall nutrition, according to recent research. The research team leveraged electronic dental and health records to gain a better understanding of how oral health treatments affect individuals' overall health over time. This is believed to be the first study to report the results of utilizing lab values of nutritional biomarkers and linking them with dental records. For the study, the research team matched the dental records of more than 10,000 patients in Indiana with medical laboratory data, specifically markers for malnutrition. The laboratory tests included complete blood count, basic metabolic profile and lipid and thyroid panel tests, among others. They compared the lab results from two years before a patient received dentures to the two years after. Researchers found that dentures represent a significant change for a person. They do not facilitate the same chewing efficiency, which may alter eating habits. Researchers found that people with dentures had a significant decline in certain nutrition markers over those two years. People who did not wear dentures did not experience the same decline. The marker levels were still within normal range, but researchers say there is the potential that the levels will continue to fall as more time passes. They urge dentists to be aware of this possibility. SM-CL206877 The next steps in this research area are to look at other factors that may influence nutrition, including insurance status and dental clinic characteristics. Presented as a service to the community by Dr. Barbara Webster 1121 Warren Ave., Suite 130, Downers Grove, IL 60515 630-663-0554 WEARING DENTURES MAY AFFECT A PERSON'S NUTRITION Dentures may have a potentially negative impact on a person's overall nutrition , according to recent research . The research team leveraged electronic dental and health records to gain a better understanding of how oral health treatments affect individuals ' overall health over time . This is believed to be the first study to report the results of utilizing lab values of nutritional biomarkers and linking them with dental records . For the study , the research team matched the dental records of more than 10,000 patients in Indiana with medical laboratory data , specifically markers for malnutrition . The laboratory tests included complete blood count , basic metabolic profile and lipid and thyroid panel tests , among others . They compared the lab results from two years before a patient received dentures to the two years after . Researchers found that dentures represent a significant change for a person . They do not facilitate the same chewing efficiency , which may alter eating habits . Researchers found that people with dentures had a significant decline in certain nutrition markers over those two years . People who did not wear dentures did not experience the same decline . The marker levels were still within normal range , but researchers say there is the potential that the levels will continue to fall as more time passes . They urge dentists to be aware of this possibility . SM - CL206877 The next steps in this research area are to look at other factors that may influence nutrition , including insurance status and dental clinic characteristics . Presented as a service to the community by Dr. Barbara Webster 1121 Warren Ave. , Suite 130 , Downers Grove , IL 60515 630-663-0554