Edentulous
Pronunciation: ee-DEN-tyoo-lus
Describing a jaw or patient lacking all natural teeth in the relevant arch or fully.
Full Definition
In implantology literature, 'edentulous' refers to complete tooth loss in one or both arches, as opposed to 'partially edentulous,' which describes a patient with one or more missing teeth but retaining some natural dentition. Editors must apply the distinction precisely: 'edentulous arch' (all teeth absent) versus 'partially edentulous' (some teeth absent). The noun form is 'edentulism.' The term is not interchangeable with 'edentate,' which is used in zoological contexts and is incorrect in dental clinical writing.
Usage
Usage note: Do not use 'edentate' in clinical dental writing. Differentiate clearly between 'edentulous' (fully toothless arch) and 'partially edentulous.'
In Context
- "The fully edentulous maxilla was rehabilitated with an implant-supported fixed prosthesis." — Prosthodontic case report
- "'Edentate' is a zoological term and should not appear in clinical dental manuscripts; replace with 'edentulous.'" — Copy-editing correction note