Assessment of root caries in patients visiting AKUH dental clinic

Objectives: 1.To determine the frequency of root caries among patients visiting AKUH dental clinic.
2.To determine the association of root caries with gender, xerostomia, smoking, betel nut and sugar intake.
Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted. Patients 30 years of age and above who visited dental clinics with gum recession or root surface caries with or without root filling were included. Subjects visiting for braces or who did not consent for the participation were excluded. Data was entered in a Performa. Information included demographics and intraoral examination was done on all teeth excluding third molars for occlusion, gum recession and root surface assessment for caries. SPSS 19.0 was used. Frequency distribution of all the variables was determined. The unit of analysis for root surface caries was the tooth while for demographics, habits and occlusion the data was analyzed at patient level. The variables of interest were the frequency of root surfaces exposed, carious and restored.
Results: A total of 4080 root surfaces of 40 subjects (25 males and 15 females) were examined. Mean age was 55.6 years (±11.4 SD). 805 (19.7%) surfaces were exposed. 137 (3.35%) surfaces were carious and only 18 (0.44%) were restored. Eighteen subjects had root caries on less than 2 surfaces; fourteen subjects had root caries on 3-5 surfaces and there were eight subjects with more than 5 carious surfaces. The most common brushing technique was horizontal and combination strokes with manual brushing twice daily using medium brush. Nine subjects (22.5%) reported use of paan and chalia. There were 7 (17.5%) smokers and 3 (7.5%) alcoholics in the sample. Class I occlusion was most frequently found (95%). Bruxism was observed in 13 subjects (32.5%). Most common type of gum recession found was Miller’s Class III (60%). Xerostomia was observed in 16 (40%) subjects. Diabetes, hypertension and other comorbids were observed in 17 subjects.
Conclusions: The most common gum recession pattern observed in our study was deep and wide (Miller’s Class III). One fifth of the subjects had extensive root caries (> 5 surfaces). Root surface exposure was found to be associated with smokers (p 0.01) while root surface caries was associated with high sugar intake (p 0.02).