Edentulousness in the United Kingdom and Ireland

Surveys of adult (16 yr and over) dental health were conducted in England/Wales and Scotland (n = 5967) and in Ireland (n = 1764) and Northern Ireland (n = 1176) in 1979. From the results of these surveys a comparison is made between levels of edentulousness, attendance patterns, attitude to loss of teeth and the wearing of full dentures. Scotland had the highest level of edentulousness (39%) and Ireland the lowest (26%). England/Wales had a level of 29% and Northern Ireland 33%. The percentage edentulous increased considerably ith age and females had a higher level of edentulousness than males. Regular attendance at the dentist was lowest in Ireland and in all countries there was a greater preference for filling rather than extraction of teeth. Levels of edentulousness do not appear to be directly related to any of the parameters investigated.