Smiles at Home: How Mobile Denture Care Improves Life for Older Adults
Aging and the Hidden Impact of Tooth Loss
As people age, losing teeth becomes more common — and it’s more than just a cosmetic concern. Missing teeth make chewing difficult, affect nutrition, alter facial shape, and can even harm confidence and social life. Yet, many older adults, especially those who are homebound or have mobility issues, simply cannot visit a dental clinic for treatment.
This has led researchers in China to explore an important question: can quality denture care be effectively delivered at home?
Bringing the Dentist to the Patient
A research team from Zhejiang University School of Medicine set out to test a new approach: providing domiciliary denture treatment — that is, making and fitting dentures right in patients’ homes.
Between February 2021 and April 2022, they treated 19 older adults (average age around 90 years) who could not travel to a clinic. Using portable dental equipment, the team followed all the same steps as regular denture care — from taking impressions and fitting dentures to making fine adjustments.
The study aimed to measure how this home-based approach affected patients’:
Quality of life related to oral health
Ability to chew
Nutritional status
Facial appearance and harmony
From Comfort to Confidence: The Results
After three months, the results were clear — and heartening.
Better quality of life: Scores on the Oral Health Impact Profile (OHIP-14) dropped dramatically, showing that patients felt less discomfort and greater confidence.
Happier patients: Satisfaction levels with the new dentures were very high, especially regarding comfort, chewing, and appearance.
Improved chewing function: Using a two-colored chewing gum test, researchers found significant gains in masticatory performance — meaning patients could chew food more effectively.
Facial rejuvenation: 3D facial scans showed measurable changes — such as increased lower face height and lip support — giving patients a more balanced, youthful look.
Slight nutritional improvement: While the nutrition scores increased slightly, the change wasn’t statistically significant. Still, researchers suggest pairing denture treatment with dietary counseling for better outcomes.
Why It Matters
This study highlights that dental care doesn’t always need to happen in a clinic.
For many older adults who are bedridden or have limited mobility, domiciliary services can restore comfort, dignity, and even social participation.
The findings suggest that home-based denture programs could become a key part of public health strategies for aging societies — especially in countries where populations are rapidly growing older.
A Step Toward Accessible Oral Health
Though the study involved a small sample and only male participants, it provides strong early evidence that mobile denture services are both feasible and effective. The researchers advocate for government-supported community programs to make such care widely available, helping older adults maintain not just oral health but overall wellbeing.
Original Study:
Shen, X., Chen, X., Lei, S., Cheng, X., Chen, Q., He, F., & Chen, Z. (2025). Domiciliary denture treatment for edentulous older adults: a retrospective study.
BMC Oral Health, 25, 1734.