Tooth   loss   especially   total  tooth loss or edectulousness , is the ultimate

   failure ,  the  dental equivalent of death. Level of edectulousness is a good

   indication of  populations  oro - dental  health.  Thus the   evaluation of  this

   indicator  in  Hamadan   population   over  35 years  old in   Dec/ 1997  was

   purpose  of  this  study.  Cluster random sampling was used in this study and

   data was collected by questionnaire form.

     The  results    showed   in  761   participants  in  this    study    52.04%     were

   edentulousness,   42.18%  were partial tooth loss and 5.78% had retained all

   28 teeth.

     Edentulousness  rates  were  negatively  related  to  levels  of  income and 

   education and tooth brushing.

     Although  the  edentulousness  rate  was  more  among  smokers,  but  this

   difference was not statistically significant.