ORAL STATUS AND PROSTHETIC FACTORS RELATED TO RESIDUAL RIDGE RESORPTION IN ELDERLY SUBJECTS

Our earlier studies on edentulous elderly subjects have shown associat ions of severe resorption in the mandibular residual ridge with female gender and systemic diseases. The aim of this study was to examine wh ether other factors also were related to residual ridge resorption (RR R). Among 177 edentulous elderly subjects effects on RRR were investig ated with regard to history of edentulousness and denture-wearing, the condition of the dentures and soft tissues, dental status of the oppo sing jaw, and oral hygiene habits. No significant association was foun d between degree of resorption and duration of edentulousness in eithe r the mandible or the maxilla. RRR was related to denture quality (P < 0.05); however, severe resorption was not. In the maxilla previous us e of removable partial dentures was a factor contributing to the resor ption (odds ratio (OR), 2.4); flabby ridge was related to the severity of the resorption (OR, 2.4)). This study showed local factors related to RRR more often in the maxilla than in the mandible, thus suggestin g that severe resorption in the mandible is influenced more by systemi c factors than by those investigated in this study.