Edentulous

/ɛˈdɛntʃələs/ adjective

Definition

Having no teeth or lacking teeth, either naturally or due to loss or extraction.

Etymology

From Latin 'e-' (without) + 'dentis' (tooth) + '-ous' (full of). The term emerged in medical and dental terminology in the 18th century to describe the condition of being toothless.

Kelly Says

Nearly one in five adults worldwide is completely edentulous by age 65—yet in some cultures, tooth loss was once considered a normal part of aging. Modern dentistry has made this condition much less common, but the word remains a clinical staple.

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