Prosthodontic treatment with health guidance to facilitate the effect in health promotion

Abstract

Insufficient masticatory function causes an increase in carbohydrate intake while decreasing the intake of foods with a low Glycemic Index (GI) and high in protein, dietary fiber, antioxidants, vitamins and minerals. Continuous status of high carbohydrate and malnutrition may increase the risk of developing metabolic syndrome, frailty, and Non-Communicable Diseases (NCDs). Prosthodontic treatment is a medical technique which not only significantly restores the masticatory disfunction, but also contributes to reducing the risk of systemic diseases, improving body composition, and promoting good health. We believe that prosthodontic treatment, the purpose of which had been directed only toward esthetic recovery and oral health so far, should be evaluated and paid attention to in the fields of healthy lifespan and prevention of onset and deterioration of NCDs more than ever before.

This paper describes some concrete approaches for health guidance before and after prosthodontic treatment, setting the ultimate goal of the treatment to items related to health promotion. Although our approaches are still in the process of systematization, the dentistry should henceforth be asked for a new medical care system by adding a function of checking up for general health to the control of oral diseases, and should play an important role in extending healthy lifespan.