Correlation Between Age, Gender, Tongue Position, Residual Alveolar Jaw Relationship, and Duration of Complete Edentulism in Patients From Benghazi, Libya: A Cross-Sectional Study

Purpose Complete edentulism is a common condition with considerable functional and psychological implications. This study aimed to assess the relationship between gender and various factors, including age, causes of tooth loss, duration of edentulism, tongue position, and residual ridge classification among completely edentulous Libyan patients receiving complete dentures. Methods A cross-sectional observational study was conducted on 500 completely edentulous Libyan patients at the Department of Prosthodontics, Faculty of Dentistry, University of Benghazi, Benghazi, Libya, between May 2018 and October 2024. Eligible participants were receiving their first complete dentures for both jaws and had a minimum edentulous period of three months. Data were collected through personal interviews and clinical examinations. Statistical analysis was performed using IBM SPSS Statistics for Windows, Version 20 (Released 2011; IBM Corp., Armonk, NY, USA), with a significance level of p < 0.05. Results Of the 500 participants, 65.4% were male and 34.6% female, with a mean age of 68 years. Periodontal disease (49.6%) and dental caries (46.1%) were the most common causes of tooth loss, with a moderate correlation to gender (r = 0.694, p < 0.0001). Males had a longer average edentulous period (11 months) compared to females (4 months), showing a weak correlation (r = 0.432). Class I tongue position was most frequent (73%), as was Class I (orthognathic) ridge relationship (87%). Correlations between gender and tongue position (r = 0.417) and residual ridge classification (r = 0.241) were weak but statistically significant. Conclusion The findings highlight a higher prevalence of complete edentulism among older Libyan males, primarily associated with periodontal disease. Tongue position and ridge relationship were generally favorable for denture retention. These results support the need for gender-specific considerations in edentulous patient management. Clinical relevance Understanding gender-based differences in edentulism characteristics can enhance treatment planning and prosthetic outcomes in complete denture rehabilitation.