What does 'edentulous' mean?

The term 'edentulous' refers specifically to the condition where no teeth are present in the mouth. This can occur due to various reasons, including age, dental disease, trauma, or other health-related issues. An edentulous individual may require dentures or other forms of prosthetic replacement to restore function and aesthetics.

In the context of the other options, the presence of wisdom teeth indicates there are teeth present, which would not apply to the definition of edentulous. Likewise, the term does not encompass a situation involving partial loss of teeth, as that would imply that some teeth are still intact. Similarly, having teeth that are present but decayed also contradicts the idea of being edentulous since it suggests that there are teeth, albeit in poor condition. Thus, the accurate meaning of 'edentulous' solely pertains to the absence of any teeth.