Three-year coronal caries incidence and risk factors in North Carolina elderly

The data presented in this paper are from the Piedmont 65+ Dental Study (1988-1991), designed to assess the levels of coronal and root caries, periodontal disease, tooth loss, and a variety of dental health-related needs among a representative sample of 234 black and 218 white noninstitutionalized older adults in North Carolina. Of the 452 subjects followed for 3 years, 45% of blacks and 59% of the whites developed new coronal caries when caries was defined as decayed and filled surfaces, decayed root fragments, and crowned surface (p = 0.022). The annualized rate of caries increment for blacks and whites was 0.8 and 1.6 surfaces per 100 at risk (p < 0.001), respectively. The mean 3-year net increment per subject, excluding newly crowned surfaces, was 1.6 and 2.1 (p = 0.025), respectively. Whites had more newly filled and crowned surfaces, whereas blacks had more newly decayed surfaces and more decayed root fragments. Logistic regression models using baseline explanatory variables showed factors related to coronal caries differed between blacks and whites. For blacks, having more teeth, higher concentration of lactobacilli in stimulated saliva, more decayed and filled root surfaces, and smoking were related to the development of new coronal DFS (mostly D). For whites, having more coronal surfaces at risk and having more physical health problems but not seeking medical care in the past 6 months were related to the development of new coronal DFS (mostly F). The study showed the caries attack rate to be higher for whites than blacks, mainly as a result of more crown restorations, whereas blacks appeared to be at greater risk for incident lesions. Thus, in order to obtain more realistic figures for caries risk groups, coronal caries increment can and should be presented including and excluding crowns, since the utilization of dental services is likely to differ between groups of older adults.