A Clinical Survey on the Assessment of the Nutritional Status of Completely Edentulous Elderly Adults

Background: The percentage of completely edentulous elderly adults is growing very fast and malnutrition is not uncommon in the elderly. Objectives: The present study was carried out to assess the nutritional status of the completely edentulous elderly adults using the Mini Nutritional Assessment (MNA) tool. . Materials And Methodology: A total 40 completely edentulous elderly individuals above 65 years of age meeting the inclusion criteria were randomly selected for the study. The primary tool in this study was a predesigned Mini Nutritional Assessment form developed by Nestle. Score was as follows: Score 23.5: Well-nourished. Anthropometric measurements were done for height, weight, mid-upper arm circumference and calf circumference. Results: The results showed 57.5 % of patients were at risk of malnutrition, 30 % were well nourished and 12.5 % were malnourished. Conclusion& Clinical Relevance: Dietary guidance based on nutritional assessment in the initial phases of examination and diagnosis should be considered while formulating a comprehensive prosthodontic treatment plan for completely edentulous patients.