The Future of Conventional Complete Dentures: A Narrative Review on Edentulism Risk Factors

Objective: This narrative review examines the factors contributing to edentulism, presents relevant data, and explores whether conventional complete dentures will remain necessary in the future. Background: Although tooth loss has shifted from being an inevitable outcome due to limited treatment options to a largely preventable condition, a significant number of individuals remain edentulous. This persistence is influenced by factors such as limited access to oral healthcare, socio-economic status, epidemiological transitions, and the attitudes of both populations and healthcare providers. Despite advances, edentulism, often caused by dental caries, periodontal disease, or trauma, continues to affect a large portion of the global population and is unlikely to diminish in the near future. The literature identifies several factors that contribute to the onset of edentulism. Methods: A thorough literature search was conducted across electronic databases including PubMed, Google Scholar, Scopus, and the University of Sydney Library’s scientific articles database. Results: Initially, 378 articles were identified. After screening abstracts and assessing relevance, 83 articles were shortlisted. Of these, 24 met the inclusion criteria, focusing on risk factors associated with edentulism and were selected for review. Conclusion: The need for conventional dentures will likely depend on the stage of epidemiological transition in each country. Traditional dentures may remain a key solution for edentulism in nations with higher rates of tooth loss.