Prosthetic crowns and other clinical risk indicators of caries among old-old Swedish adults: findings from the KEOHS Project. Kungsholmen Elders Oral Health Study.

OBJECTIVES

The Kungsholmen Elders Oral Health Study (KEOHS) evaluated the oral health status of generally healthy, community-dwelling persons over the age of 80 living in Kungsholmen, Sweden. This paper explored possible clinical risk indicators of coronal and root caries among the KEOHS subjects.

DESIGN

In this cross-sectional study, dentate KEOHS subjects received a caries assessment using defined visual, tactile criteria.

SETTING

Examinations were carried out in two local clinics by standardized examiners.

SUBJECTS

One hundred twenty-nine dentate persons were examined.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES

The examination identified decayed and filled surfaces, prosthetic crowns, and missing teeth.

RESULTS

More root than coronal surfaces had untreated decay, and secondary root caries contributed the greatest number of decayed surfaces. Ninety percent of the examined dentate subjects had at least one prosthetic crown. Root surfaces exposed to crown margins were more likely to have caries than root surfaces not so exposed, particularly among women. The presence of untreated coronal caries (yes/no) was positively associated with having untreated root caries and an intermediate number (14-20) of teeth, but inversely associated with having 4+ prosthetic crowns. Active root caries (yes/no) was positively associated with having untreated coronal caries, 14-20 teeth, and 4+ prosthetic crowns. Nearly 20% of identified root lesions were present at or below the gingival margin, and most (88%) were secondary caries associated with crown margins (65%) or other restorations (23%).

CONCLUSIONS

Our findings suggest that some dental characteristics, including the presence of prosthetic crowns, are risk indicators for the presence of untreated coronal and root caries.