What does the term "edentulous" refer to in a medical context?

The term "edentulous" specifically refers to a condition in which a person has missing teeth. This medical terminology comes from Latin roots, where "e-" indicates absence and "dentulus" refers to teeth. Therefore, when someone is described as edentulous, it typically implies that they have lost some or all of their natural teeth, which can have various implications for their ability to chew food, speech, and oral health overall. This term is commonly used in dental and medical contexts to assess the need for dentures or other restorative dental work.