The association between periodontal disease and root/coronal caries

Area of Science:

• Dental Public Health
• Periodontology
• Cariology

Background:

• Periodontal disease is a prevalent oral condition.
• Caries, both coronal and root, remain significant dental issues.
• Understanding the interplay between periodontal health and caries is crucial for public health strategies.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the association between periodontal disease and coronal caries.
• To examine the association between periodontal disease and root caries.
• To analyze these associations in a nationally representative sample of adults in the UK.

Main Methods:

• Cross-sectional study utilizing data from the Adult Dental Health Survey 2009.
• Included adults aged 35 and over with periodontal and caries assessments.
• Negative binomial regression models adjusted for multiple confounding factors.

Main Results:

• Periodontal disease was significantly associated with both coronal and root caries.
• Individuals with periodontal pockets (PD/LoA ≥ 4 mm) had a 1.03 rate ratio for coronal caries.
• Periodontitis showed a 1.23 rate ratio for root caries.
• Smoking, sex, age, and oral hygiene consistently associated with both caries types.

Conclusions:

• Periodontal disease increases the risk for both coronal and root caries.
• Root exposure may explain the link with root caries.
• Coronal caries association could be due to cavity irritation, shared risk factors like poor oral hygiene, or behavioral/socioeconomic factors.