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Clinical decision-making for caries management in root surfaces.
1Department of Diagnostic and Biological Sciences, Faculty of Dentistry, University of Toronto, Canada. james.leake@utoronto.ca
Journal of Dental Education
|November 9, 2001
Summary
Root caries prevalence increases with age, affecting approximately 20-22% of adults over 30. While fluoride aids remineralization, evidence for other treatments like chlorhexidine varnish and restoration is limited.
Area of Science:
- Dentistry
- Gerodontology
- Epidemiology
Background:
- Root caries is a significant oral health concern, particularly in aging populations.
- Understanding its natural history, prevalence, and effective treatments is crucial for dental practitioners.
Purpose of the Study:
- To synthesize the best available evidence on root caries.
- To inform clinical practice regarding diagnosis and treatment strategies.
Main Methods:
- An evidence-based approach was employed, involving extensive literature searches of electronic databases.
- A systematic review of 161 selected references was conducted.
Main Results:
- Prevalence of root caries in adults over 30 is approximately 20-22% less than their age.
- Lesion severity increases with age, with about 8% of the population acquiring new lesions annually.
- Fluoride demonstrates efficacy in remineralization; chlorhexidine varnish shows promise, but evidence for restoration is tentative.
Conclusions:
- Current data on root caries progression and diagnostic accuracy is limited.
- Fluoride is a recommended treatment for root caries remineralization.
- Further research with robust study designs is needed to confirm the efficacy of other interventions.