Denture biofilm increases respiratory diseases in the elderly. A mini-review.

Purpose: This mini-review discusses the clinical implication of respiratory pathogens in the biofilm on acrylic resin removable dentures in the elderly.

Methods: A search was conducted using the keywords: "dentures", " acrylic resin", "biofilm", "pneumonia", "elderly", "respiratory pathogens", and "respiratory diseases" in databases PubMed/Medline, Lilacs, SciELO and textbooks between 1999 and 2024.

Results: The elderly are more susceptible to chronic diseases and/or life-threatening infections because of senescence itself and functional and degenerative alterations.