Translating inflammaging: The bidirectional relationship between oral and systemic health in geriatric prosthodontics

Abstract

The aging population presents complex challenges to oral health, particularly due to inflammaging, a chronic, low-grade systemic inflammation linked to tissue degeneration and frailty syndrome. Despite its relevance, inflammaging remains underexplored in geriatric prosthodontics. This scoping review aimed to systematically examine and classify existing literature on oral-systemic inflammaging, with emphasis on diagnostic biomarkers, therapeutic strategies, and interdisciplinary integration. Bloom’s cognitive taxonomy was used to structure the evidence according to levels of complexity and clinical application. Following the PRISMA-ScR guidelines, 1686 records were screened across four databases (PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, and Embase), and 49 studies met the inclusion criteria. The review employed a dual framework: the PICO model for clinical relevance and Bloom’s instructional taxonomy to categorize evidence from recall-level biological markers to higher-order insights, such as senotherapeutics, multi-omics diagnostics, and digital integration. Findings highlighted strong correlations between systemic inflammatory markers and oral aging conditions. Novel interventions, including senolytics, mTOR inhibitors, and microbiome-targeted therapies, showed translational promise. However, gaps persist in standardized biomarker panels, long-term clinical trials, and integration of frailty metrics into prosthodontic care. In conclusion, inflammaging offers a compelling biological perspective for transitioning prosthodontic strategies from mechanical approaches to precision-based methodologies. Integrating concepts including geroscience, salivary diagnostics, and personalized biomaterials can enhance outcomes and resilience in older adults. Future research should prioritize biologically informed protocols, interdisciplinary collaboration, and AI-supported predictive tools to align prosthodontics with the broader goals of healthy aging.