Abstract

LINDEN, Maria Salete Sandini et al. Assessment of nutritional status of patients rehabilitated with dental implants - longitudinal study. RFO UPF [online]. 2011, vol.16, n.2, pp. 183-186. ISSN 1413-4012.

Objective: The purpose of this work was to evaluate the nutritional improvement and quality of life of patients who were rehabilitated with implants. Methods: 19 people participated in the survey among female and male aging between 31 and 81 years, rehabilitated by prostheses on implant. For the data collection a questionnaire "-Mini Nutritional Assessment MNA™" was used, focusing on issues related to nutrition. Results: Previously the implants, 26.3% of patients reported a decrease in food ingestion due to chewing and swallowing difficulties, loss of appetite or digestive problems. This percentage was virtually abolished after implant rehabilitation, which was 5.3%. The Fisher's exact test was suggestive of significance (p = 0.089), however, there was no significant difference in the number of meals, in the frequency of adequate ingestion of milk, vegetables and meats, fruit and vegetable consumption and ingestion of water, before and after installation of prostheses on implant. Conclusion: It was concluded that the patients had an improvement in their masticatory ability; therefore, they did not alter their eating habits.

Keywords : Nutrition.; Dental implants.; Chewing.; Quality of life..