Root caries in areas with and without fluoridated water at the Southeast region of São Paulo State, Brazil

Abstract

This study aimed to investigate root caries prevalence in areas with and without water fluoridation at the Southeast region of São Paulo State, in the adult population, employees of public and private schools, and elderly population. Epidemiological surveys were conducted according to the World Health Organization guidelines (1997), including 1,475 dentate individuals aged 35 to 44 years and 65 to 74 years, living in cities representing the southeast of São Paulo State, with (n=872) or without (n=603) fluoridated water supply. Statistical analysis was performed by Mann-Whitney and Chi-square tests at a significance level of 5%. The prevalence of root caries was 15.6% for the 35-44-year-old age group and 31.8% for the 65-74-year-old age group. There were no statistically significant differences (p>0.05) in the occurrence of root caries according to water fluoridation, although individuals living at non-fluoridated areas presented higher percentage of missing teeth; also, there was higher mean number of intact roots at fluoridated areas (p<0.05). Most individuals with gingival recession, both adults and elderly, did not have root caries experience. In this study, root caries prevalence was lower in areas with fluoridated water. Due to the reduced prevalence of edentulism and increased number of people keeping their natural teeth for a longer period, a future increase in root caries is expected, highlighting the importance of studies related to water fluoridation and its relationship with the oral health of adults and elderly, especially referring to tooth root.

Correlates of root caries experience in middle-aged and older adults in the Northwest Practice-based REsearch Collaborative in Evidence-based DENTistry research network

“…57–59 There are mixed results in regards to the preventive benefit of fluoride rinses among older adults. 60,61 Numerous studies indicate that older adults benefit from water fluoridation 22,62,63 , which reinforces the importance of dental health professionals being prepared to speak to patients about the oral health benefits associated with community water fluoridation 64 .…”

Socioeconomic, sociodemographic, and clinical variables associated with root caries in a group of persons age 60 years and older in Mexico

“…showed that subjects aged 65 years and older had a prevalence of 43.9% 16 . Studies from other parts of the world (none of them representative of national profiles) have reported a root caries prevalence of 31.8% in subjects aged 65 to 74 in Brazil, 29 an average of 6.3% affected surfaces in the Netherlands, 30 an RCI of 27% in Germany, 31 and an RCI of 66.7% in India 32 . The severity and extension of root caries appears to vary widely across population groups.…”

Prevalence of root caries among ambulant older adults living in central Chile

“…The reported root caries index (RCI) ranged from 1 to 22% in the USA, 22.6% in Norway and 10% in Germany . Few studies are available on root caries in Latin America . In Mexico, Taboada and her collaborators reported a RCI of 34.4% in the population aged 60–90 years.…”

“…In Mexico, Taboada and her collaborators reported a RCI of 34.4% in the population aged 60–90 years. In Brazil, the prevalence of root caries for the 65–74‐year‐old age group was 31% . Data from Colombia indicate low prevalence, no more than 0.5 decayed root per person, among those older than 55 years…”