What are major risk factors for edentulism (loss of all teeth) in older adults?

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Among those living below the poverty level, edentulism is almost twice as high as those living above the poverty line; those above age 85 have about one-third greater levels of edentulism as those between the ages of 65 and 84. As the American population ages, visits to physicians increase, but visits to dentists decrease. Only 60% of older Americans reported a dental visit in 2014. The lack of reimbursement by traditional Medicare for dental care is no small factor in this neglect. As older adults retire, many lose employer-based dental insurance and, at the same time, deal with a reduction in income. The one-third of Medicare beneficiaries who opted for Medicare Advantage plans in 2018 were significantly more likely to have dental coverage than those on traditional Medicare plans. However, these Plan C dental insurance programs are saddled with premiums, co-pays, and overall caps on what they pay out. Not surprisingly, about 20% of those age 65 and over have untreated cavities (this percentage more than doubles for low-income older adults) and an increasing number are choosing to travel to Mexico each year for dental work at much lower prices.

What Are Major Risk Factors for Edentulism (Loss of All