Root Caries Experience and its Association with Risk Indicators among Middle-Aged Adults

INTRODUCTION: With an increasing number of retained teeth, there is an enhanced susceptibility to periodontal problems with gingival recession, which led root surface exposure to the oral environment and develops the root caries later stages among adults. AIM: Evaluate the root caries experience and its association with risk indicators among middle-aged South Indian adult dental patients using root caries index (RCI; Katz RV - 1979). MATERIALS AND METHODS: The study was conducted among middle-aged (35 to 44 year) adults in the Outpatient Department of Private Dental Institute. Root caries experience was evaluated using the Katz RCI on a full mouth basis. Statistical analysis was done by using SPSS software. RESULTS: The prevalence of root caries among study population was 8.9% with a mean RCI score of 1.04 ± 5.10. As age increased mean number of teeth with gingival recession (45.25 ± 27.09), decayed root surfaces (0.34 ± 1.11), filled root surfaces (0.39 ± 2.99), mean number of teeth missing (3.78 ± 6.42), and RCI (1.68 ± 6.93) also increased. CONCLUSION: Age, gender and higher number of retained teeth were concluded as a significant risk indicators for root caries.