Abstract

The purpose of this research was to investigate complete edentulism in Americans over the age of 65 years as a function of three variables. These variables are the number of dentists in a population of 100,000, the patients lack of a high school education, and the patients possession of at least a college education. Complete edentulism is a crippling condition effecting the well-being, self-esteem, facial esthetics, and masticatory functioning of those afflicted. Statistical analysis of state-wise data (n=50) revealed a significant correlation among all three variables arrayed against edentulism. The number of dentists obtained a correlation of r = -.452. The high school education and college education data produced r values of .598 and -.585, respectively. All three data sets produced critical probability levels less than .01 and were, therefore, statistically significant. Complete edentulism is highly negatively correlated with the college educated t(48) = 5.002. Increased rates of edentulism are associated with decreased dentist density and lack of a high school education. The t(48) = 3.514 for the dentist to population variable and t(48) = 5.165 for those patients lacking a high school education. This study is certainly clinically relevant. By understanding factors influencing edentulism, progress can be made to reduce, if not eliminate, this condition.