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Updated: Aug 12, 2026

Oral Health Assessment by Lay Personnel for Older Adults
Published on: February 2, 2020
Relationship of removable partial denture use to root caries in an older population
P S Wright1, P H Hellyer, D Beighton
1London Hospital Medical College.
Abstract:
The pattern and severity of root caries in a selected older population, living in the community and attending a general dental practice in Bexhill, East Sussex, England, is reported. A total of 146 patients were examined to determine the relationship among removable partial dentures, their design, and root caries. Of those patients, 57% wore removable dentures and had a higher prevalence of exposed root surfaces and root caries, particularly on abutment teeth. In addition, root caries lesions on abutment surfaces were found to be larger and more active than those on nonabutment surfaces.
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