As a dentist in Florida for 33 years and living in "lower Alabama" i.e. Northwest Florida which has more in common with the Deep South than the Northeast US, I'll make just a couple strictly empirical observations that can be classified as anecdotal at best. Rick can analyze any of these if he chooses to for statistical correlation.

First, I believe Robert Allison is right on about the Florida outlier/anomaly. Not so much here where many people still believe it is "normal" to have dentures after age 50 or so, in Central and South Florida there are many elderly who sell expensive homes in NJ or CT or wherever and retire. They frequently have pensions as well as social security and can afford higher end dentistry i.e. keeping their teeth. Frequently these transplants are also better educated than their southern counterparts as well.

Secondly, in this century there are a number of older people who are quite affluent and have some of their teeth but they are not in very good shape. Due to periodontal disease (FLOSS DAILY, MY FRIENDS!) the prognosis for these teeth following crowns and fixed bridges is not very good. Consequently, they opt to extract all their teeth (yes, they now are edentulous for your analysis) and have implants placed surgically which support and upper and lower denture but in a permanent fashion, unlike typical removable dentures. This treatment called all-on-four can run $10,000 to $45,000. So obviously this group would not be low income yet are edentulous. Just a fly in the ointment to throw in.

My final comment concerns what I see every week in the 3 free clinics where I volunteer. Patients as young as 30 come in with a mouthful of non-restorable teeth, many just roots broken off at the gumline. They are NOT edentulous but want to be because they are in so much pain. Some are homeless, some are former drug users, most are unemployed, none have any dental insurance. None of these clinics help with dentures but we will extract the hopeless teeth for free. Frequently it is obvious that the patient is neither brushing nor flossing. Priorities are often out of wack, i.e., they cannot afford to see a dentist but have smart phones, cigarettes, expensive nails or hair, name brand shoes. But how much does a toothbrush cost? When asked, they admit to rarely brushing! I cannot understand how these people were not educated by parents or teachers of the importance of oral hygiene in this day and age. But it is true. The other question I have is why the government (federal and state) do not consider teeth part of your body? Medicare covers zero dental and Medicaid in most states, especially the poorer ones, also has no or very limited provisions for dental care. An infected tooth can cause death yet it is not covered whereas an infected toe would be. Strange, but true.

Enough on my soapbox. Have a great day!