CLINICAL AND LABORATORY EVALUATION OF LOCAL OZONE THERAPY DURING ADAPTATION TO COMPLETE REMOVABLE DENTURES IN ELDERLY PATIENTS

Abstract

Population aging has led to a steady increase in the prevalence of complete edentulism among elderly individuals, making complete removable dentures one of the most widely used methods of prosthetic rehabilitation. However, adaptation to complete dentures in elderly patients is often complicated by age-related changes in oral tissues, impaired salivary function, reduced regenerative capacity of the mucosa, and disturbances of oral microflora. These factors contribute to prolonged adaptation periods, discomfort, and a high incidence of inflammatory complications, including denture-related stomatitis.