Edentulism and Tooth Loss in Iran: SEPAHAN Systematic Review No. 6.

OBJECTIVES: Tooth loss appears to have an important role in the loss of mastication and esthetics. The aim of this systematic review was to investigate the prevalence of tooth loss and edentulism in the Iranian population. METHODS: Studies reviewed in this article were primarily identified via search of the online bibliographic databases including PubMed and Iranian Biomedical Journals, by using "tooth loss", "edentulism", "epidemiology", and "Iran" as keywords. Studies potentially related to this topic were retrieved and the selection criteria applied. From the chosen studies the eligible articles were reviewed. RESULTS: Of the studies identified after conducting the search, 10 eligible studies were extracted. The prevalence of tooth loss ranges between 0.3% in 3 to 5-year-old children to 70.7% in adults over 65. There is a lack of well-designed epidemiological studies on edentulism and tooth loss in Iran. The prevalence of tooth loss is high and it increases by aging. CONCLUSIONS: It seems that the prevalence of tooth loss is high among adults in Iran. It is highly suggested that population-based studies should be established to investigate the epidemiology and risk factors of tooth loss in Iran. The results of such studies will be useful in the adoption of appropriate preventive strategies.