Patient Adaptation to Complete Dentures in Complete Edentulism: Biological, Functional and Psychosocial Aspects of Rehabilitation
Keywords:
Complete edentulism, complete dentures, adaptation, patient satisfactionAbstract
Successful rehabilitation of patients with complete edentulism depends not only on the technical quality of complete dentures but also on the patient's ability to adapt to newly restored oral conditions. Adaptation to complete dentures is a complex biological, functional, and psychosocial process involving denture-bearing tissues, neuromuscular mechanisms, sensory perception, and patient-related psychological factors. The present review summarizes current evidence regarding the mechanisms of denture adaptation, factors affecting rehabilitation outcomes, and contemporary approaches aimed at improving patient satisfaction and quality of life.
References
Carlsson G.E., Omar R. The future of complete dentures in oral rehabilitation: a critical review. Journal of Oral Rehabilitation. 2010;37(2):143–156.
Felton D.A. Edentulism and comorbid factors. Journal of Prosthodontics. 2016;25(1):5–20.
Emami E., de Souza R.F., Kabawat M., Feine J.S. The impact of edentulism on oral and general health. International Journal of Dentistry. 2013;2013:498305.
Müller F., Naharro M., Carlsson G.E. What are the prevalence and incidence of tooth loss in the adult and elderly population? Clinical Oral Implants Research. 2007;18(Suppl 3):2–14.
Goiato M.C., dos Santos D.M., Haddad M.F., Pesqueira A.A. Oral rehabilitation and quality of life in edentulous patients. Gerodontology. 2014;31(2):132–138.
Bilhan H., Erdogan O., Ergin S., Celik M. Evaluation of satisfaction and complications in complete denture wearers. Journal of Oral Rehabilitation. 2012;39(1):28–37.
Sivakumar I., Sajjan S., Ramaraju A.V., Rao B. Changes in oral health-related quality of life in elderly edentulous patients after complete denture therapy. Journal of Prosthodontics. 2015;24(6):452–456.
Kuo H.C., Kuo Y.S., Lee I.C., Wang J.C., Yang Y.H. Association of oral health-related quality of life with patient satisfaction after complete denture treatment. Quality of Life Research. 2013;22(7):1665–1674.
Shigli K., Hebbal M. Assessment of changes in oral health-related quality of life among complete denture wearers. Gerodontology. 2010;27(3):167–173.
Martins A.M.C., Guimarães L.S., Campos C.H., et al. The effect of complete dentures on edentulous patients’ oral health-related quality of life in the long term: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Dental Research Journal. 2021;18:65.
Taylor M., Grey N., Satterthwaite J. Longevity of complete dentures: a systematic review. Journal of Prosthetic Dentistry. 2021;125(4):611–619.
Patel N., Sharma P., Jones R. Complete dentures: an update on clinical assessment and management. Primary Dental Journal. 2024;13(1):24–35.
Limpuangthip N., Somkotra T., Arksornnukit M. Modified retention and stability criteria for complete denture wearers. Journal of Prosthetic Dentistry. 2018;120(1):43–49.
Tosun B., et al. Examination of oral health quality of life and patient satisfaction among removable denture users. BMC Oral Health. 2024.
Harti I., et al. Satisfaction and quality of life of patients rehabilitated by complete removable dentures. La Tunisie Médicale. 2025.
Sabău D.T., et al. Analysis of oral health-related quality of life in elderly edentulous patients. Journal of Clinical Medicine. 2024;13(22):6865.
Limpuangthip N., et al. A systematic review of patient-oriented outcomes following prosthodontic rehabilitation. BDJ Open. 2024.
Al-Jammali Z.M., et al. The effect of several factors on patient satisfaction with complete dentures. Journal of Contemporary Dental Practice. 2022.
Carvalho Moraes A., et al. Impact of oral rehabilitation on the quality of life of totally edentulous patients. Research, Society and Development. 2022.
Alves A.C., Cavalcanti R.V.A., Calderon P.S., Alchieri J.C. Quality of life related to complete dentures. Acta Odontológica Latinoamericana. 2018;31(2):91–96.
John M.T., Slade G.D., Szentpétery A., Setz J.M. Oral health-related quality of life in patients treated with complete dentures. International Journal of Prosthodontics. 2004;17:503–511.
Feine J.S., Carlsson G.E., Awad M.A. Prosthodontic rehabilitation and quality of life in edentulous patients. International Journal of Prosthodontics. 2022;35(5):531–540.
Kattadiyil M.T., Goodacre C.J. Digital complete dentures: clinical outcomes and patient acceptance. Journal of Prosthetic Dentistry. 2017;117(2):156–162.
Feng Y., Zhang X., Li J., et al. Expert consensus on digital restoration of complete dentures. International Journal of Oral Science. 2025;17:41.
Park C., Lee H., Kim J. Current protocols and fabrication methods for digital complete dentures: a narrative review. Journal of Functional Biomaterials. 2025;16:32.
Downloads
Published
Issue
Section
License
Copyright (c) 2026 Mahmud Toshtemirovich Hamidov, Nazira Nasullaevna Habibova

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.