toothlessness
State without dentition
Toothlessness is the state of having no teeth, whether from age, disease, or extraction.
Figuratively, it describes a lack of force or effectiveness: The legislation's toothlessness made it easy to ignore.
A toothless law has no penalties; a toothless threat carries no real consequence.
Lacking power to achieve
- weakLacking power or force
- impotentLacking power or efficacy
- defangedMade less dangerous
- declawedTalons surgically removed
harmless · futile · unenforceable · neutered · watered-down · gutted · hollow · symbolic
Removable artificial teeth
- false teethArtificial replacement teeth
- implantsSurgically embedded devices
- bridgeStructure spanning an obstacle
- acrylicSynthetic resin or fiber
full plate · removable · fixative · adhesive · snap-in · flippers · clasp · fitting
Disease weakening skeletal structure
- atrophyWasting from disuse
- jawboneLower skull bone
- resorptionBody reclaiming its tissue
- alveolarOf tooth sockets
bone loss · malocclusion · periodontal · extraction · decay · gingivitis · oral surgery · prosthodontics
Advanced in age
- seniorHigher in rank
- geriatricRelating to elderly care
- octogenarianPerson in ninth decade
- nonagenarianPerson aged ninety-plus
pensioner · retirement · dentures · gumming · declining · wizened · sunken · time-worn
Chewing sans teeth
- chewingCrushing food orally
- masticationTeeth-based food breakdown
- pureedBlended until smooth
- mashedCrushed to softness
swallowing · suction · mushy · pulpy · tender · bland diet · nutritional · digestion
Inward-curving facial contours
ineffective
Lacking power to achieve
declawed · harmless · futile · unenforceable · neutered · watered-down · gutted · hollow · symbolic · nominal
dentures
Removable artificial teeth
- false teethArtificial replacement teeth
- implantsSurgically embedded devices
- bridgeStructure spanning an obstacle
full plate · acrylic · removable · fixative · adhesive · snap-in · flippers · clasp · fitting · adjustment
osteoporosis
Disease weakening skeletal structure
- atrophyWasting from disuse
- jawboneLower skull bone
- resorptionBody reclaiming its tissue
alveolar · bone loss · malocclusion · periodontal · extraction · decay · gingivitis · oral surgery · prosthodontics · speech impediment
elderly
Advanced in age
- seniorHigher in rank
- geriatricRelating to elderly care
- octogenarianPerson in ninth decade
nonagenarian · pensioner · retirement · dentures · gumming · declining · wizened · sunken · time-worn · hoary
gumming
Chewing sans teeth
- chewingCrushing food orally
- masticationTeeth-based food breakdown
- pureedBlended until smooth
mashed · swallowing · suction · mushy · pulpy · tender · bland diet · nutritional · digestion
sunken cheeks
Inward-curving facial contours
aged · facial structure · jawline · lisping · whistling
- missing partsmissing limb, missing finger, missing toe, missing hand, limbless
- weaknessesweakness, flaw, failing, defect, shortcoming
tooth, toothed, toothpick, toothless, toothy, toothsome, orthodontist, orthodontics, orthodontic