title: Prevalence of dental caries and influencing factors, time trends over a 30-year period in an adult population. Epidemiological studies between 1983 and 2013 in the county of Dalarna, Sweden.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The aim of this study was to investigate the prevalence of dental caries in an adult population using four different cross-sectional studies over a 30-year period and to assess its possible associations with socio-economic and socio-behavioural factors.
  
  
  METHODS
  Four cross-sectional epidemiological studies were performed in the county of Dalarna, Sweden, in 1983, 2003, 2008 and 2013. Random samples of 1012-2244 individuals, aged 20-85 years, who answered a questionnaire about socio-economic and socio-behavioural factors, were radiographically and clinically examined.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The proportion of individuals with at least one decayed surface (DS) was 58% in 1983 and significantly lower, 34% in 2008 (p < 0.05) and 33% in 2013; the mean number of DS was 2.0 in 1983 and 1.1 in 2013 in the age group 35-75 (p < 0.05). In the age group 85, the mean number of DS was 1.2 in 2008 and 2.4 in 2013. Adjusted for age and number of teeth, irregular dental visits, limited financial resources for dental care, smoking, education below university, male gender, daily medication and single living were positively and statistically associated with manifest caries.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The declining trend in the prevalence of manifest caries seems to be broken. In the oldest age group mean number of DS was higher in 2013 compared with 2008, indicating a possible beginning of an increase. This needs special attention as this group increases in the population, retaining natural teeth high up in age. Manifest caries was found to be associated with socio-economic and socio-behavioural factors.
authors.affiliation: a Center for Oral Rehabilitation, Public Dental Services , Falun , Sweden ;|b Department of Surgical Sciences, Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Medical Faculty , Uppsala University , Uppsala , Sweden ;
authors.forename: Kristina
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Edman
authors.affiliation: c School of Education, Health and Social Studies , Falun , Sweden ;
authors.forename: Kerstin
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Öhrn
authors.affiliation: d Center for Public Dental Services , Falun , Sweden ;
authors.forename: Birgitta
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Nordström
authors.affiliation: e Public Dental Services , Gävleborg , Sweden ;|f Center for Clinical Research, Uppsala University/Region Gävleborg , Gävle , Sweden.
authors.forename: Anders
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Holmlund
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004245:DMF Index; D003729:Dental Care / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D003731:Dental Caries / Q000453:epidemiology*; D004522:Educational Status; D016021:Epidemiologic Studies; D005260:Female; D005382:Financing, Personal / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D007576:Jaw, Edentulous, Partially / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D004364:Pharmaceutical Preparations / Q000008:administration & dosage; D015995:Prevalence; D012307:Risk Factors; D012737:Sex Factors; D012847:Single Person; D012907:Smoking / Q000453:epidemiology; D012919:Social Behavior; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D013548:Sweden / Q000453:epidemiology; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D004364:Pharmaceutical Preparations
keywords: Dental caries; epidemiology; socio-behavioural; socio-economic; tobacco