Oral Frailty and Aging: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis of Oral Health Challenges in the Geriatric Population

INTRODUCTION: Oral frailty is an emerging multidimensional condition in the geriatric population, significantly affecting functional ability, systemic health, and quality of life. AIM: Systematic review was conducted to evaluate oral health challenges and quantify the effectiveness of oral health interventions in older adults. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A systematic review and meta-analysis were conducted following Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic reviews and Meta-Analyses strategy. Electronic databases including Scopus, PubMed, Web of Science, and Cochrane Library were assessed up to January 2026. Studies involving individuals aged ≥60 years assessing oral frailty, oral function, or related outcomes were included. A total of 40 studies were considered for qualitative synthesis, of which 22 were eligible for quantitative meta-analysis. Standardized mean differences (SMD) with a random-effects model were used to compute effect sizes. RESULTS: Oral health interventions demonstrated a significant overall moderate effect (SMD = 0.48; 95% CI: 0.32-0.64; P < 0.001) in improving geriatric outcomes. Subgroup analysis showed the highest impact for oral functional interventions (SMD = 0.52), followed by combined nutritional and oral interventions (SMD = 0.50). Preventive and prosthodontic approaches showed significant benefits. CONCLUSION: Oral health interventions significantly improve oral and systemic outcomes in the elderly. Multidisciplinary and function-oriented strategies provide the greatest benefit, emphasizing the need for integrated geriatric oral healthcare models.