Prevalence of complete edentulism among US adults 65 years and older: A Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System study from 2012 through 2020

Background: The rapid growth of the older adult population in the United States and their increased risk of edentulism make it essential to analyze trends and factors associated with edentulism.

Methods: Data were obtained from the Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System from 2012 through 2020. US- and state-level trend lines were reported. Multiple logistic regression analyses were used to evaluate the association between self-reported complete edentulism and demographic characteristics, chronic diseases, smoking status, and health insurance status. Multiple imputations were used to address the missing data.

Results: A total of 771,513 (weighted n = 50,410,576) participants were included in the study. There was a significant (P = .021) downward trend in the prevalence of edentulism from 2012 (16.36%) through 2020 (13.54%). Having less than a high school education, being a smoker, being non-Hispanic Black, having an annual household income less than $75,000, and having chronic conditions, including diabetes, myocardial infarction, arthritis, depression, and stroke, were significantly associated with complete edentulism.

Conclusions: Despite a decrease in prevalence of edentulism, disparities based on race, income, and education still exist. Edentulism is associated with chronic diseases in older adults.

Practical implications: Public health initiatives should be aimed at reducing the impact of edentulism and improving overall quality of life among older adults. Community health programs allocating resources to improve access to affordable care, reducing precursors to edentulism, expanding dental coverage, and promoting oral and general health awareness are vital components of these efforts.