Abstract
The aim of this study was to measure the caries prevalence in the root surface in a group of Brazilian adults. The prevalence and their intraoral distribution of caries lesions of root surface were assessed in dental patients ranging in age from 35 to 44 and from 50 to 59 years of age of both sexes (n=360). A total of 98.9% had root surfaces with gingival recession and 78.1% had at least one root caries lesion. The prevalence of the disease was analyzed using the Root Caries Index (RCI). The average value was greater for women (18.6%) than for men (13.4%) (p<0.01) and similar in both age groups (p>0.01). The maxillary canines and first premolars and the mandibular molars presented the greatest RCI values. The RCI was greater in the proximal surface of the maxilla and buccal surface of the mandible. We conclude that caries of the root surface are present in the Brazilian population and deserve attention concerning their actual role in the epidemiology of principal oral diseases of the adult population.
Highlights
IntroductionThe world population has suffered numerous alterations and currently the population is aging in developed countries but increasingly so in those called the “Third World”
The world population has suffered numerous alterations and currently the population is aging in developed countries but increasingly so in those called the “Third World”.This change in age of the American population and of other developed countries will be followed by a greater permanence of teeth in the mouth until the late years of life, and the objective of dental treatment will have to change to satisfy the demands of specific diseases of late and adult age, including its predominant form of dental caries, i.e., root caries [1]
The scientific pendulum of dentistry is swinging towards diseases of this age group because childhood caries have declined and the resources which were directed to the attention of coronary caries in children may be applied in adults [2,3]
Summary
The world population has suffered numerous alterations and currently the population is aging in developed countries but increasingly so in those called the “Third World” This change in age of the American population and of other developed countries will be followed by a greater permanence of teeth in the mouth until the late years of life, and the objective of dental treatment will have to change to satisfy the demands of specific diseases of late and adult age, including its predominant form of dental caries, i.e., root caries [1]. Concerning the less developed countries, the majority of elderly people live in “Third World” countries and demographical projections indicate that from 1980 until the end of the XX century about threefourths of the increase of the elderly population occurred in these countries This would mean that Brazil would have the sixth most elderly population of the world in absolute terms. It must be noted that the increase in the hope of living when born is desirable for any society, but this must be followed by an improvement in the quality of life for those who have already aged or who are in the process of aging [4]
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