BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: Complications of edentulism include bone resorption, muscular dysfunction, temporomandibular joint disorders (TMJ), and stomatognathic system dysfunctional syndrome (SSDS). The objectives of the study were as follows: to analyze the distribution of edentulism complications related to sociodemographic and clinical parameters and to quantify the strength of relationships between edentulism complications and these socio-demographic or clinical variables.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

This cross-sectional study investigated 150 edentulous subjects (mean age 61.54 +/- 8.99 years) scheduled for hybrid prosthetic therapy. The distribution of edentulism complications was assessed in relation to sex-specific and age-specific patterns, edentulism location (maxillary vs. mandibular), edentulism extension (partial reduced, partial extended, subtotal, complete edentulism), and Kennedy classification (class I vs. class II vs. class IV). Cramér's V was used to measure the strength of the association between edentulism complications and sociodemographic and clinical factors.

RESULTS

The most prevalent complications were more frequent in males-bone resorption (74.2% vs. 40.9%), malocclusion (97.5% vs. 84.9%), TMJ disorders (74.2% vs. 57.0%), muscular disorders (62.5% vs. 31.2%), dyshomeostasis (64.2% vs. 31.2%), and SSDS (79.2% vs. 53.8%). The most relevant associations were found between age group and clinical variables such as irregular ridge (Cramer's V = 0.737), long/thick frenum (0.711), and SSDS (0.544), while edentulism category was strongly associated with irregular ridge (0.585), TMJ disorders (0.493), and bone resorption (0.492).

CONCLUSIONS

The type and stage of edentulism emerged as key determinants of complication severity, with complete and subtotal edentulism being associated with the highest rates of muscular and temporomandibular joint dysfunctions.