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Caries prevention in a community-dwelling older population
L V Powell1, R E Persson, H A Kiyak
1Department of Restorative Dentistry, University of Washington, Seattle, Wash. 98195, USA. lvpowell@u.washington.edu
Caries Research
|August 26, 1999
Summary
Preventive dental strategies, including education, chlorhexidine rinses, fluoride varnish, and scaling, showed a modest reduction in caries progression for older adults. Intraoral procedures offered a slight benefit in preventing new decay and tooth loss.
Area of Science:
- Geriatric Dentistry
- Preventive Dentistry
- Oral Health Research
Background:
- Dental caries remains a significant oral health issue for older adults, particularly in lower-income and diverse populations.
- Effective caries prevention strategies are crucial for maintaining oral health and function in the elderly population.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the efficacy of various caries-preventive strategies on caries progression in older adults.
- To compare the impact of educational programs, chlorhexidine rinses, fluoride varnish, and professional cleaning on caries development.
Main Methods:
- A 3-year randomized clinical trial involving 297 older adults (≥60 years) from diverse, lower-income backgrounds.
- Subjects were assigned to five groups receiving combinations of usual care, education, chlorhexidine rinses, fluoride varnish, and scaling/root planing.
- Caries progression was defined as new lesions, fillings, or extractions on previously sound tooth surfaces.
Main Results:
- Groups receiving intraoral procedures (chlorhexidine, fluoride varnish, scaling/root planing) demonstrated a 27% reduction in coronal caries and a 23% reduction in root caries compared to groups without these interventions.
- While trends suggested benefit, the observed reductions did not reach statistical significance (p=0.09 for coronal, p=0.15 for root).
- The study suggests routine preventive treatments may offer a small-to-moderate effect on caries development in this population.
Conclusions:
- Comprehensive preventive dental care, including intraoral procedures, may help reduce caries progression in older adults.
- Further research is needed to optimize preventive strategies for this demographic.
- Maintaining oral health in older adults requires tailored and consistent preventive interventions.