Assessment of the Severity of Depressive Symptoms in Patients over 65 Years of Age Using Removable Dentures

Abstract Background Depression is a common disorder among older adults, yet it is not a standard element of the aging process. Depression can affect oral health as a result of neglecting hygiene routines, poor nutrition, and avoiding necessary dental care, resulting in an increased risk of caries and periodontal disease. On the other hand, general health deteriorating with age and also poor oral health are not without their impact on mental state. Objectives The aim of this study was to assess the prevalence of depression and its association with oral problems in patients over 65 years of age using removable prosthetic restorations. Materials and methods Ninety-eight elderly patients (over 65 years of age) using removable prosthetic restorations were studied. The study variables included sociodemographic data (age, gender), and variables describing general health status included smoking and systemic diseases. The association of oral health parameters with depression was assessed using the following variables: missing teeth, duration of prosthetic restoration use, prosthetic inflammation, and dry mouth. Results Depression is significantly more frequently diagnosed among elderly patients (median age 72 years) with the evidence of a nervous system disease, denture wearers diagnosed with prosthetic ground inflammation, patients with dry mouth (according to the FOX test), and among patients using removable dentures for more than 10 years. Additionally, in the assessment of the risk of depression, age, cardiovascular disease, nervous system disease, duration of denture use of more than 10 years, prosthetic base inflammation and dry mouth according to the FOX test were found to statistically significantly increase the chance of developing depression. Conclusion The above data should be taken into account in the daily dental care of the elderly, and interdisciplinary care should be considered in elderly patients at risk of depression.