title: Five-year incidence rates and intraoral distribution of root caries among community-dwelling older adults.
abstract: The 5-year incidence and intraoral distribution of decayed and filled root surfaces were evaluated in 379 black and 323 white residents of North Carolina aged 65 and older. During the period of study, approximately 39% of blacks developed at least one root DFS compared with 52% for whites (Wald X(2) test, p = 0.062). When the results were calculated using the net root DFS increment, blacks did not have significantly higher rates than whites over the 5-year study period (0.52 surfaces/person versus 0.42 surfaces/person, Survey Regression, n = 363, p = 0.708). However, for blacks, the 5-year incidence density rate of root DFS was 0.26 per 60 surface-months at risk, and for whites the rate was 0.19 new root DFS per 60 surface-months (incidence density ratio = 1.33, 95% CI = 1.01-1.76, p = 0.047). Intraoral distribution patterns for root caries incidence revealed that the approximal surfaces of the anterior teeth were involved most frequently, particularly in the mandible and maxilla in whites, followed in decreasing order by the buccal surfaces of the lower anteriors and the mesial surfaces of the upper anteriors in blacks. Although root caries incidence rates were obviously low, there were significant differences in the occurrence of caries between blacks and whites. The pattern of occurrence was similar for both races with root surface disease being concentrated in the approximal surfaces of the anterior teeth in a small proportion of affected individuals, with whites presenting more filled root increments than blacks. These findings suggest a need for more caries treatment in blacks and increased monitoring of this population since they are at a higher risk for root caries.
authors.affiliation: Department of Dental Ecology, School of Dentistry, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, USA.
authors.forename: H P
authors.initials: HP
authors.lastname: Lawrence
authors.forename: R J
authors.initials: RJ
authors.lastname: Hunt
authors.forename: J D
authors.initials: JD
authors.lastname: Beck
authors.forename: G M
authors.initials: GM
authors.lastname: Davies
mesh_terms: D001741:Black or African American; D000368:Aged; D044383:Black People; D003481:Cuspid / Q000473:pathology; D004245:DMF Index; D003793:Dental Restoration, Permanent / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D007180:Incisor / Q000473:pathology; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D008334:Mandible; D008437:Maxilla; D009657:North Carolina / Q000453:epidemiology; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012044:Regression Analysis; D012307:Risk Factors; D017213:Root Caries / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000473:pathology; D014092:Tooth Root / Q000473:pathology; D044465:White People