TL;DR: A scoping review by researchers at McGill University and Université Laval, published in JDR Clinical & Translational Research in October 2026, mapped 53 studies on whether dental care is linked to cognitive outcomes in adults aged 45 and older. Regular dental visits, prosthodontic rehabilitation and periodontal therapy were generally associated with better cognitive outcomes, but the authors stress the evidence is mostly observational and too varied to show cause and effect.
Canadian researchers have taken a hard look at a question that comes up naturally in the chair: can looking after my teeth protect my memory? As of October 2026, a new scoping review from two Quebec dental faculties gives Canadian clinicians a clear map of what the research does and does not show. For practices in Toronto and across Ontario that care for older adults, the review is both encouraging and a reminder to be precise about what we tell patients.
Who did the research?
The paper, "Is There Evidence That Dental Care Modifies Cognitive Decline? Insights from a Scoping Review," was first published on 27 October 2026 in JDR Clinical & Translational Research. The authors are Haricharan, El-Amier, Nicolau, Feine and de Souza. Their listed affiliations are the Population Oral Health Cluster in McGill University's Faculty of Dental Medicine and Oral Health Sciences in Montréal, and the Faculté de médecine dentaire at Université Laval in Québec.
What question did the review ask?
The authors start from an emerging body of research. Emerging research suggests that poor oral health, in the form of tooth loss, periodontal disease or edentulism, may contribute to cognitive impairment and dementia in older adults. What has been unclear is the role of dental care itself. If oral disease is linked to cognitive decline, does treating it change anything?
The review set out to map and evaluate the evidence on whether dental care use and specific dental interventions are associated with cognitive function or cognitive decline in middle-aged and older people.
How the evidence was gathered
- Method: a scoping review following PRISMA-ScR guidelines.
- Databases: MEDLINE, Embase, CINAHL and PsycINFO, searched from inception to 11 April 2025.
- Population: adults aged 45 or older with tooth loss or other oral conditions.
- Studies included: 53.
The authors grouped dental care into four domains: dental care utilization, removable prosthodontic rehabilitation, fixed prosthodontic rehabilitation and periodontal therapy. That grouping is useful for clinicians because it lines up with how care is actually delivered: recall visits, dentures, implants and crowns, and periodontal treatment.
What did the review find in each domain?
Regular dental visits
Most studies on dental care utilization found that regular dental visits were associated with lower dementia risk. Some showed null associations. That mix is worth keeping in mind: the direction of the evidence is favourable, but it is not unanimous.
Removable prosthodontics
Removable prosthodontic rehabilitation, especially with well-fitting or implant-supported dentures, was associated with improved cognitive function. The authors suggest this link is likely mediated by chewing efficiency and nutrition. For anyone who fits complete dentures, the phrase "well-fitting" is the important qualifier.
Fixed prosthodontics
Fixed prosthodontic rehabilitation, such as implants and crowns, was consistently linked to better cognitive scores in the included studies.
Periodontal therapy
According to the authors, periodontal therapy showed the most consistent benefit, which they describe as reducing systemic inflammation and dementia risk. Of the four domains, this is the one the review highlights most strongly.
Why the authors urge caution
The review is careful not to overclaim, and Canadian clinicians should follow its lead. The authors write that the evidence remains predominantly observational and is marked by substantial heterogeneity across study designs, definitions of dental exposures and cognitive outcome measures.
Observational data cannot rule out the obvious alternative explanation: people who keep up with dental care may differ in many other ways that also protect cognition. Different studies also defined "dental care" and "cognitive decline" differently, which makes the studies hard to compare. The authors call for standardized methods and prospective studies to clarify causal pathways and inform clinical guidelines.
Their overall conclusion is that maintaining oral health through regular dental care appears to support cognitive resilience in middle-aged and older adults. Note the word "appears." That is the honest strength of the evidence today.
What should Ontario dental practices take from this?
The review does not change clinical guidelines, and it does not support telling patients that dental treatment prevents dementia. It does give practices in Toronto, North York, Scarborough and across Ontario a well-sourced, Canadian-authored reference when patients raise the topic.
- Use careful language with patients. "Research links regular dental care with better cognitive outcomes, though it hasn't proven cause and effect" is accurate. "Dental care prevents dementia" is not supported by this review.
- Denture fit is worth revisiting. The review singles out well-fitting dentures. Reviewing fit and chewing function at recall visits for older denture wearers is good care regardless of the cognitive question.
- Keep periodontal maintenance on the agenda. The authors report periodontal therapy as the most consistent domain. That reinforces existing reasons to keep older patients on a maintenance schedule.
- Think about integrated care. The authors' knowledge transfer statement says the findings may guide integrated care pathways. For practices that work with long-term care homes or family physicians, this review is a useful paper to share.
Pro Tip: Add a one-line chewing-function question ("Are there foods you avoid because of your teeth or dentures?") to recall visits for patients over 65. It takes seconds, fits the review's emphasis on chewing efficiency and nutrition, and flags patients whose prostheses need attention.
EBIKO Dental will continue monitoring Canadian oral health research and report on prospective studies as they are published. For dental supplies across Canada, visit ebiko.ca.
Sources
- Haricharan PB, El-Amier N, Nicolau B, Feine J, de Souza RF. Is There Evidence That Dental Care Modifies Cognitive Decline? Insights from a Scoping Review. JDR Clinical & Translational Research, published 27 October 2026. doi:10.1177/23800844261491617 · Europe PMC record
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Does going to the dentist lower the risk of dementia?
A 2026 scoping review from McGill University and Université Laval found that most studies on regular dental visits reported an association with lower dementia risk, though some found no link. The evidence is mainly observational, so it shows an association rather than proof that dental care prevents dementia.
Q: Which dental treatment had the strongest link to cognitive health?
The review's authors report that periodontal therapy showed the most consistent benefit across the studies they mapped. Well-fitting or implant-supported dentures and fixed work such as implants and crowns were also associated with better cognitive outcomes.
Q: How many studies did the McGill and Laval review include?
The review included 53 studies of adults aged 45 or older, found by searching MEDLINE, Embase, CINAHL and PsycINFO up to 11 April 2025.