OBJECTIVE: To systematically review the literature in order to identify an association between income and tooth loss in adults. METHODS: An electronic search was conducted on PubMed, Scopus, Embase, Web of Knowledge, Scielo and LILACS. Studies were included if they reported the relationship between socioeconomic status (assessed by income) and tooth loss (clinical examination or self-reported) among adults aged from 18 to 60-years-old. RESULTS: We found 1007 articles through March 2014; 11 studies were then included. The results of meta-analyses with random-effects model demonstrate that subjects of lower levels of income presented greater chance of tooth loss (OR 2.52; 95%CI 2.11-3.01). This association also remained significant when only adjusted results were pooled; however, attenuation in the magnitude of such association was noted (OR 1.66; 95%CI 1.48-1.86) as well as no heterogeneity. Meta-regression analyses revealed that the sample size explained about 9% of heterogeneity in the crude model. CONCLUSION: Our results evidenced a strong relationship income and tooth loss in adults. Longitudinal studies with broader socioeconomic measures are encouraged