[Prevalence of root caries among adults and the elderly in southeast Brazil]

To assess the prevalence and factors associated with root caries (RC) among adults and the elderly in the Southeast of Brazil.

This study used secondary data from the Health Ministry's 2010 National Oral Health Survey. In the Southeast, a household probability sample of 1 586 adults and 1 277 elderly was evaluated in four capitals and 30 municipalities. The RC outcome was evaluated according to World Health Organization criteria for oral health surveys, based on the root caries index (RCI) and root, decayed, filled (RDF) surface index. Participants answered a sociodemographic questionnaire. The chi-square test was used to determine the association between prevalence of RC and gender, income, educational attainment, and place of residence (capitals or noncapital municipality).

The mean RDF index in adults was 0.36, and the RCI was 6.1%. In 15.2% of adults, the RDF index was > 0. The mean RDF index was 0.17 in the elderly and 0.37 in dentate individuals. Prevalence of RDF > 0 was 12.4% and 27.2%, respectively, and the RCI was 10% among the elderly. In both groups, untreated RC was the most prevalent. RC in adults was associated with income, educational attainment, and residence location. In the elderly, it was associated only with gender.

Prevalence of RC indicates that further attention should be paid to this oral condition, especially as RC was untreated in most subjects. We suggest that future studies evaluate new strategies for the care and prevention of RC.