Advances in Dental Research, Vol 7, 4-14, Copyright © 1993 by International & American Associations for Dental Research
Root caries in Scandinavia in the 1980's and future trends to be expected in dental caries experience in adults
O. Fejerskov, V. Baelum and E. S. Ostergaard
Department of Oral Anatomy, Royal Dental College, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Aarhus, Denmark.
The large variety of diagnostic criteria used adds some uncertainty to
comparisons of recent clinical and epidemiological data on root caries in
Scandinavia. Nevertheless, it is apparent that the prevalence of frank
carious cavities on the root among 60(+)-year-olds is about 30-40%. When
inactive and recurrent lesions and fillings are included, the prevalence is
almost 100% in 60(+)-year-olds. At this age, the mean number of root
surface fillings is about 7, and the mean number of active caries lesions
ranges from 0.9 to 3.4. The degree of gingival recession does not appear to
be a direct measure of root caries risk in a population. When the number of
teeth at risk is accounted for, the age-dependent increase in prevalence of
root caries is very weak. Therefore, comparisons of root caries prevalence
between populations are meaningful only when information on number of teeth
present and teeth at risk is also available. Recent studies from various
parts of the world have demonstrated that caries is ubiquitous in all
populations and that caries progression continues throughout life. The
impact of this on trends in prevalence and incidence of dental caries in
adults is discussed in the light of what is known about the natural history
of dental caries.
