Clinical Science A Longitudinal Study of Root Caries: Baseline and Incidence Data

Abstract

A 34-month clinical investigation of root caries was conducted using a hospitalized, chronically-ill population. Forty-five subjects with 150 caries-free surfaces were observed for at least 12 consecutive months. Clinical measurements included diagnosis of new root and coronal caries, gingival inflammation, pocket depth, recession, and distance of new lesions from the gingival margin. The overall root caries attack rate was 1.90 lesions per 100 person-months at risk, with the greatest rate occurring during the first year of study. Mesial and facial surfaces accounted for 84% of all new lesions. Sixteen subjects accounted for 26 new lesions; nine subjects had two or more new lesions. Subjects with new root lesions were found to have lower enamel caries experience but higher root caries experience at baseline and higher scores for gingival inflammation, pocket depth, and recession compared with those who did not develop root caries.