Study of Tooth Loss Patterns and Prosthetic Rehabilitation Among Elderly Patients in Kwara State

Edentulism and tooth loss among the elderly are associated with nutritional deficiency and reduced quality of life, and documenting prosthetic rehabilitation patterns in North Central Nigeria informs geriatric dental service planning. This study examined tooth loss patterns and prosthetic rehabilitation among elderly patients aged 60 and above attending the dental clinic at the University of Ilorin Teaching Hospital, Kwara State, North Central Nigeria. A cross-sectional study was conducted among 220 elderly patients presenting to the prosthodontics clinic over six months. Data collected included number of remaining teeth, Eichner classification of occlusal support, reason for tooth loss, prosthesis type and adequacy, and self-reported masticatory satisfaction. Results showed that 41.4 percent were completely edentulous and 58.6 percent partially dentate. The most common reason for tooth loss was periodontal disease (47.3 percent), followed by dental caries (38.6 percent). Among dentate patients, 66.4 percent had less than 20 functional teeth. Complete dentures were the most commonly provided prosthesis. Satisfaction with denture function was only moderate in 52.3 percent. Regular dental attendance had been practised by only 18.2 percent before elderly years. The study concludes that tooth loss is extensive and that prosthetic rehabilitation is suboptimal in this population. Recommendations include geriatric dental health education programmes, targeted prevention services for adults above 50 years, and expansion of prosthodontics clinic capacity at the University of Ilorin Teaching Hospital.

Keywords: tooth loss, edentulism, prosthetic rehabilitation, elderly patients, Kwara State