A cross‐sectional study into the prevalence of root caries in periodontal maintenance patients

Abstract

The aim of this cross-sectional study was to investigate cross-sectionally the prevalence and several risk indicators of root caries in 45 periodontal maintenance patients, who had been actively treated for adult periodontitis 11-22 years ago. These patients were part of a routine 3-6 monthly maintenance schedule. Active and inactive root caries and root fillings were recorded, as well as coronal caries experience. Plaque and bleeding scores, number of exposed root surfaces, rate of saliva secretion, saliva buffering capacity, mutans streptococci counts and Lactobacilli were also scored. From the total of 45 study subjects, 37 patients (82%) showed root lesions (root caries and/or root fillings), while only 8 patients were free of any root lesions. On average, there were 4.3 root lesions per patient (range 0-19) in the present study. 10 patients had active root caries lesions. Of all damaged root surfaces, 9% were active lesions, mostly located on mandibular teeth at lingual and vestibular sites: 40% were inactive lesions often detected at vestibular sites. The remaining damaged root surfaces (51%) were restored; they were equally divided over both jaws. A higher number of root lesions was observed in those patients with >106 mutans streptococci/ml saliva. Although the actual number of lesions per patient was low in relation to the large number of sites with gingival recession, the results from this cross-sectional study in periodontal maintenance patients indicate that: (1) root caries can be regarded as a complication in periodontal maintenance patients; (2) the individual number of root lesions correlate with individual dental plaque scores; (3) a high number of root lesions is associated with high counts of salivary mutans streptococci; (4) no relation between root caries and coronal caries experience, salivary secretion rate or salivary buffering capacity seems present. Therefore, repeated oral hygiene instructions and adjunctive preventive measures including diet counseling and fluoride rinses, as well as fluoride and chlorhexidine varnishes, should be advocated in high-risk patients.

Root caries and risk profiles using the Cariogram in different periodontal disease severity groups

“…Root surface caries was defined as "a cavitation or softened area in the root surface which might or might not involve adjacent enamel or existing restorations" [1]. A root surface was considered to be restored if a filling was strictly confined to the root surface, or if a coronal restoration clearly extended beyond the cemento-enamel junction [8]. The term 'root lesion' was a collective expression indicating the presence of root caries or a filling [8].…”

“…Occurrence of root surface caries in patients with periodontal disease, those undergoing periodontal treatment or maintenance and those eventually receiving prosthodontic reconstructions has been a frequent problem for periodontists and clinicians in general [1][2][3][4][5][6][7][8][9]. Over a 12-year observational period, root caries developed in »90% of patients treated for advanced periodontal disease [7].…”

Oral colonization by Streptococcus mutans and its association with the severity of periodontal disease in adults

“…Two previously calibrated and experienced periodontists (Dr. S. Matus and Dr. M. Nally) examined the patients and verified the accuracy of the student's first diagnosis. Periodontal diagnosis criteria were based on the classification of the American Academy of Periodontology (20) . Individuals were classified as having gingivitis or periodontitis.…”

Trombosi̇t Konsantreleri̇ni̇n Di̇şeti̇ Çeki̇lmeleri̇ni̇n Tedavi̇si̇ Amaciyla Kullanimlari: Derleme

“…30 Dişeti çekilmesi; anatomik, patolojik ve travmatik faktörlerin sonucunda meydana gelmektedir. 31 Dişeti çekilmesinin beraberinde getirdiği sorunlar; dentin hassasiyeti 32 , plak birikimi ve plağın uzaklaştırılması için gerekli hijyenin sağlanamaması 33 , estetik sorunlar 33 , kök çürükleri 34,35 , diş kaybetme korkusu 31 ve abrazyon 31 olarak sayılabilir. 36 Dişeti çekilmelerinin tedavisi amacıyla; laterale kaydırılan flep, kuronale kaydırılan flep(KKF), çift papil tekniği, serbest dişeti grefti, subepitelyal bağ dokusu grefti (SBDG), aselüler dermal matriks allogrefti (ADMA), mine matriks proteini(EMD) olmak üzere pek çok teknik geliştirilmiştir.…”