Salivary Findings, Daily Medication and Root Caries in the Old Elderly

Abstract

Root caries is one of the main dental problems among the dentate old elderly. The aim of our study was to evaluate the occurrence of root caries in 196 dentate elderly (mean age 79.3) in relation to their salivary flow rate, buffering capacity and salivary microbial counts. These subjects participated in the oral health component of the Helsinki Aging Study in 1990–1991. Clinical oral examinations included assessment of the state of root surfaces and salivary flow rates, both paraffin-wax-stimulated and unstimulated. Salivary buffering capacity and the growth of salivary mutans streptococci, lactobacilli and yeasts were determined by means of commercially available kits. Root caries occurred in 52% of men and in 35% of women (p < 0.05). Number of decayed (DRS) and decayed or filled (DFRS) root surfaces correlated (r = 0.16 to 0.26) with salivary microbial counts. No correlation appeared between DRS and subjects’ salivary flow rates. Basic estimates on the association between DRS and salivary findings showed that microbial counts only produced significant odds ratios, from 2.0 to 3.5. However, in a log-linear model high salivary mutans streptococci and yeast counts together with male gender were associated with greater occurrence of root caries.

Prevalence and Distribution of Root Caries in Chronic Liver Diseased Saudi Patients

“…There was further similarity in this study with investigation by others, as to gender-associated high root caries where males recorded higher RCI than females [16,[29][30][31][32][33] . This could be attributed to differences in dental care behavior of women with respect to higher frequency of tooth-brushing, less sugar consumption and more regular dental check ups.…”

Saúde bucal de idosos residentes em instituições de longa permanência de Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, Brasil

“…Aproximadamente metade dos idosos apresentaram pelo menos uma superfície radicular com lesão de cárie, prevalência maior que a observada em uma população de idosos que freqüentavam grêmios ou serviços municipais de saúde em cidades da região sudeste de São Paulo (31,8%) 9 . A prevalência de cárie radicular em idosos institucionalizados no Brasil pode ser considerada baixa se comparada aos resultados de estudos realizados no Canadá (80%), na França (88%) e na Finlândia (52%) 32,33,34 . Essa diferença não reflete, necessariamente, uma pior saúde bucal nessas populações, mas provavelmente, um maior número de idosos dentados e de dentes remanescentes, comparados aos idosos brasileiros.…”

Place de l’odontologiste dans la prise en charge pluridisciplinaire d’un patient âgé dénutri

“…De plus, elle augmente considérablement le risque d'apparition de caries radiculaires et rend difficile le port de prothèses amovibles. Il a été mis en évidence un lien statistique entre la réduction forte des flux salivaires, stimulés ou non, et la dénutrition sévère [18,19] ou le taux d'albumine [20] . Il est important de souligner que l'état de dénutrition s'accompagne fréquemment d'une déshydra-tation et que cette dernière peut être à l'origine de l'apparition d'un syndrome sec buccal ou aggraver une hyposialie préexistante.…”