[Trends in the level of edentulism in Quebec between 1980 and 1993]

Level of edentulism is a good indicator of a populations' bucco-dental health. Thus, the evolution of this phenomena enables us to seek any modification of adults' bucco-dental health. The percentage of adults in Quebec aged 18 and over who are completely edentulous decreased from 26 per cent in 1980 to 20 per cent in 1993. During the same period, the percentage of adults aged 18 and over who are only partially edentulous decreased from 18 per cent to 13 per cent. We note on one hand that this decrease is more prominent among younger adults and among anglophones and on the other hand that income and education are more strongly associated with edentulism in 1993 than in 1980. In 1980, individuals with lower levels of education were three times more edentulous (partially or totally) than those with higher levels of education (73 per cent versus 25 per cent). In 1993, this ratio increased to six times (72 per cent versus 12 per cent). It appears, therefore, that while edentulism has generally decreased in Quebec, it is more concentrated among certain high risk groups.