Root caries prevalence among older adults living in central Chile

Methods:  A sample of 438 older adults, aged 65-74 years, and living independently in the community were orally examined and underwent a structured oral health interview.  Data collection extended from March to October 2011.

Results: This was a largely dentate population (74.9%).  Dentate participants had 70.4% of their root surfaces with recession. Those with exposed root surfaces had an average of 29.1 root surfaces exposed.  This represents an average of 64.1% of root surfaces with recession.  In relation to the prevalence of root surface caries, those with exposed root surfaces had an average 43.7% of the root surfaces with caries history, with a mean participants score on root caries index (RCI) of 8.23%, with a mean of 0.21 and 0.55 root surfaces filled and decayed, respectively. 

Conclusions: Participants seemed to have better oral health status than previously reported.  The epidemiological transition in Chile would mean more older people retaining their natural teeth, which in terms of root caries would mean a potential increasing problem.  Results revealed that, consistent with more recent studies conducted in independent living older adults elsewhere, root caries occurred in a lower frequency in Chilean community-dwelling older adults.  Yet, this, and the proportion of unmet restorative needs could be reduced.  Expansion of community-based preventive care programs specifically tailored to older adults is needed to address this challenge.