Epidemiology If Edentulism

Question 1

What is Edentulism?

Answer 1

The state of being completely or partially without teeth

Question 2

Edentulism can be due to?

Answer 2

1. Oral diseases eg dental caries, Perio
2. Trauma
3. Defects

Question 3

What decreased the prevalence of Edentulism?

Answer 3

Dentistry which brought along mechanism and techniques of preventing and controlling oral diseases

Question 4

Myth about toothless?

Answer 4

1. Edentulism is inevitable especially with aging
   But now it is clear that tooth retention is possible throughout life

Question 5

What are the global and regional trends of Edentulism?

Answer 5

Trends shows a decline in Edentulism throughout the world but the decline is slow

Question 6

Edentulism in developing and developed countries?

Answer 6

1. Developed countries showed high proportion and history of extractions and denture wearers
2. Developing countries showed low proportions due to limited access to dental care, hence fewer extractions

Question 7

Name three practices that affect the levels of Edentulism?

Answer 7

1. Health beliefs
2. Social attitudes
3. Cultural practices

Question 8

Which country has higher percentage of Edentulous persons aged 35-44?

Answer 8

1. Canterbury, New Zealand (35.7%)

Question 10

Which country has lower percentage of Edentulous persons aged 35-44?

Answer 10

1. Yamanashi, Japan (0%)

Question 11

Name the determinants of Edentulism?

Answer 11

1. Host factors eg attitude, practice and norms
2. Demographic distribution eg race, socioeconomic status, gender, education
3. Agent factors
4. Dental care

Question 12

Discuss Edentulism under host factors 1. Attitude

Answer 12

Fatalities attitude
Individuals believe that it’s better to extract the tooth than to go through endless intervention only for the tooth to be extracted anyway
This can lead to people refusing other treatments besides extractions

Question 13

Which country has higher percentage of Edentulous persons aged 35-44?

Question 14

Discuss Edentulism under host factors 2. Practice and Norms?

Answer 14

1. Cape Town coloured extracted maxillary anterior teeth as a fashion statement in their community
2. Black people believe that if a tooth is painful the only effective treatment is to extract it
3. Wearing dentures carries no stigma this trend encourages extractions

Question 15

Discuss Edentulism under demographic distribution?

Answer 15

1. Race : More whites demonstrated greater degree of Edentulism this can be due to access to dental care

Question 16

Discuss Edentulism under demographic distribution?

Answer 16

2. Gender: Previously Edentulism was more in females than males due to them seeking help for any condition, genetic and hormonal factors might have predisposed females to oral diseases
   But currently there is no clear gender differences in terms of Edentulism

Question 17

Discuss Edentulism under demographic distribution?

Answer 17

3. Socioeconomic status: Edentulism is higher in low socioeconomic population due to poor access to dental care and lack of knowledge on how to look after the teeth and surrounding structures

Question 18

Discuss Edentulism under demographic distribution?

Answer 18

4. Education: higher educated people tend to have fewer toothless than less educated individuals due to them being able to access dental care being able to afford dental care

Question 19

Discuss Edentulism under Agent factors?

Answer 19

Major causes of Edentulism is dental caries and Perio disease
Edentulism due to the above conditions is decreasing due to increase access to dental care and education

Question 20

Discuss Edentulism under Dental care?

Answer 20

Toothless may be due to lack of dental intervention to restore the tooth If extraction is not initially indicated
Also toothless can be due to the dentist incompetence, impatient and urger to make money but opting for extractions than other measures to save the tooth if possible

Question 23

Discuss Edentulism under demographic distribution?