Biological Aging Following Full-Arch Implant-Supported Fixed Rehabilitation in Edentulous Patients

This study aims to investigate the association between full-arch implant-supported fixed dental rehabilitation and changes in biological aging among adults with complete tooth loss (edentulism). A total of 60 adults aged 50 years or older with complete tooth loss will be enrolled in this prospective cohort study. Participants will be included in one of two groups: an implant rehabilitation group (30 participants) receiving full-arch implant-supported fixed dental prostheses, and a delayed-treatment comparison group (30 participants) receiving the same treatment after a three-month delay. The main outcome is the change in biological age estimated from DNA methylation in saliva samples, compared with chronological age. Other outcomes include facial biological age, physical frailty, quality of life, nutritional status, emotional well-being, cognitive function, and brain function. Participants will undergo assessments at baseline and at 3, 12, and 24 months. These assessments will include saliva collection, facial photographs and scans, physical function tests, questionnaires, cognitive tests, and brain function measurements using electroencephalography (EEG), magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), and functional near-infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS). The study will examine whether changes in oral function following implant-supported fixed dental rehabilitation are associated with changes in biological aging and brain function. The findings may improve understanding of the relationship between oral rehabilitation and overall health in older adults with complete tooth loss.