Clinical Biomarker Variations in Edentulous Patients Undergoing Prosthetic Rehabilitation – A Prospective Study

Introduction: Complete edentulism compromises masticatory efficiency, leading to nutritional deficiencies and systemic health impacts. This study aimed to evaluate variations in serum iron, total iron-binding capacity (TIBC) and alkaline phosphatase (ALP) levels amongst edentulous patients rehabilitated with removable partial dentures (control group), conventional complete dentures or mandibular implant-supported overdentures (ISO). Materials and Methods: A randomised clinical trial was conducted on 30 patients aged 50–70 years. Participants were allocated into three groups: partially edentulous patients with removable partial dentures (Group 1, n = 10), completely edentulous patients rehabilitated with conventional dentures (Group 2, n = 10) and those with mandibular ISO (Group 3, n = 10). Serum markers were measured at baseline and after 3 months. Results: At baseline, Group 1 showed the highest serum iron (108.9 μg/dL), TIBC (311.5 μg/dL) and ALP (91.6 IU/L) levels ( P < 0.05). At follow-up, serum iron improved significantly in Groups 2 and 3, with Group 3 showing the greatest increase ( P = 0.001). TIBC levels increased significantly in Groups 1 and 3 ( P < 0.05). ALP levels increased in Group 2 ( P = 0.001) but remained stable in Group 3, suggesting reduced bone remodelling. Discussion: Prosthetic rehabilitation significantly influences serum iron, TIBC and ALP levels. ISO demonstrated superior benefits in nutritional and bone health compared to conventional dentures, underscoring their systemic advantages. Long-term studies are recommended to validate these findings.