Prosthetic crowns and other clinical risk indicators of caries among old-old Swedish adults: findings from the KEOHS Project. Kungsholmen Elders Oral Health Study.
OBJECTIVE
The Kungsholmen Elders Oral Health Study (KEOHS) evaluated the oral health status of generally healthy, community-dwelling persons over the age of 80 living in Kungsholmen, Sweden. This paper explored possible clinical risk indicators of coronal and root caries among the KEOHS subjects.


METHODS
In this cross-sectional study, dentate KEOHS subjects received a caries assessment using defined visual, tactile criteria.


METHODS
Examinations were carried out in two local clinics by standardized examiners.


METHODS
One hundred twenty-nine dentate persons were examined.


METHODS
The examination identified decayed and filled surfaces, prosthetic crowns, and missing teeth.


RESULTS
More root than coronal surfaces had untreated decay, and secondary root caries contributed the greatest number of decayed surfaces. Ninety percent of the examined dentate subjects had at least one prosthetic crown. Root surfaces exposed to crown margins were more likely to have caries than root surfaces not so exposed, particularly among women. The presence of untreated coronal caries (yes/no) was positively associated with having untreated root caries and an intermediate number (14-20) of teeth, but inversely associated with having 4+ prosthetic crowns. Active root caries (yes/no) was positively associated with having untreated coronal caries, 14-20 teeth, and 4+ prosthetic crowns. Nearly 20% of identified root lesions were present at or below the gingival margin, and most (88%) were secondary caries associated with crown margins (65%) or other restorations (23%).


CONCLUSIONS
Our findings suggest that some dental characteristics, including the presence of prosthetic crowns, are risk indicators for the presence of untreated coronal and root caries.
Morse
Douglas E
DE
New York University College of Dentistry, Department of Epidemiology & Health Promotion, New York, NY 10010, USA. dem5@nyu.edu
Holm-Pedersen
Poul
P
Holm-Pedersen
Jytte
J
Katz
Ralph V
RV
Viitanen
Matti
M
von Strauss
Eva
E
Winblad
Bengt
B
D017677:Age Distribution; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D003442:Crowns / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D003731:Dental Caries / Q000453:epidemiology*; D003753:Dental Health Surveys; D005260:Female; D006305:Health Status Indicators; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009909:Oral Health; D012307:Risk Factors; D017678:Sex Distribution; D013548:Sweden / Q000453:epidemiology