ISSN: 2147-2092
Effects of Dental Extraction on Cognitive Functions in the Elderly
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Original Investigation
VOLUME: 31 ISSUE: 1
P: 22-24
January 2020

Effects of Dental Extraction on Cognitive Functions in the Elderly

GMJ 2020;31(1):22-24
DOI: 10.12996/gmj.2020.06
Sara Samur-Erguven 1
Ayşe Hande Arpaci 2
Mustafa Arslan 3
Berrin Isik 3
1. 75th Oral and Dental Health Hospital, Oral Surgery Clinic, Ankara, Turkey
2. Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Faculty of Dentistry, Ankara University, Ankara, Turkey
3. Department of Anesthesiology and Reanimation, Faculty of Medicine, Gazi University, Ankara, Turkey
No information available.
No information available
Received Date: 07.09.2018
Accepted Date: 14.11.2018
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ABSTRACT

Objective:

Dental extraction can be a cause of short-term cognitive decline in elderly patients. In this research, we aimed to evaluate cognitive functions using the Mini-Mental State Examination before and after tooth extraction in elderly patients who have undergone dental extraction with local anesthesia.

Methods:

A group of 40 randomly selected patients >65 years old who underwent dental extraction were included. Mini-Mental State Examinations were performed before and after dental extraction.

Results:

The patients’ total Mini-Mental State Examination scores after dental extraction were statistically significantly lower than the patients’ scores before extraction (p < 0.0001).

Conclusion:

The results of this study suggest that tooth extraction can be a cause of short-term cognitive decline in elderly patients. However, the possibility that loss of teeth is another contributing factor to long-term cognitive decline should be evaluated in further comprehensive clinical studies.