Aging and caries experience in adults: a hospital-based cross-sectional study

A cross-sectional study conducted from April 2016 to April 2018 at the Government Medical College and Hospital in Chandigarh, India, investigated coronal and root caries prevalence and DMFT (Decayed, Missing, Filled Teeth) indices among urban, middle-income adults.

Overall, 601 individuals examined, aged 21-50 years, divided into three age groups: 21-30 (G1, n = 200), 31-40 (G2, n = 201), and 41-50 (G3, n = 200). Using WHO Oral Health Assessment criteria, a calibrated examiner assessed caries; data graphically analysed and with Kruskal-Wallis tests with pairwise tests (3 age group comparisons), independent samples Kruskal-Wallis test (male/female comparison), and Spearman's correlations.

The overall mean DMFT score was 6.52 (95% CI, 6.16-6.88), rising from 5.12 in G1 to 8.12 in G3 (P < 0.01). DMFT component scores were D = 4.02, M = 1.73, and F = 0.77. Age-related increase in decayed teeth prevalence (86% in G1, 86.5% in G2, 89.5% in G3), missing teeth (36%, 54.5%, 73.5%), and filled teeth (25%, 35.5%, 35.5%) was observed. Root caries prevalence was low (3%-4.5%), with no significant age-related differences (P > 0.05). Females had significantly higher mean rank for DMFT, decayed, missing, and filled teeth scores than males (P < 0.05), but no gender differences were found for root caries (p = 0.195). Age weakly correlated with DMFT (r = 0.262, P < 0.001) and filled teeth (r = 0.093, P = 0.023), but not with decayed teeth or root caries.

The study highlights the need for early preventive interventions, especially for younger adults and females, to curb caries progression, though weak correlations limit clinical significance.