A priliminary study on the prevalence of cemental caries in a Sri Lankan population
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Date
1998-11-07
Authors
Ratnaweera, P. M.
Mendis, B. R. R. N.
Ekanayake, S. L. Samaranayaka, P. M.
Samaranayaka, P. M.
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
University of Peradeniya
Abstract
The exposure of the roots of the teeth to the oral environment has increased the prevalence of root surface caries, particularly that of cemental caries. The published studies that have documented the proportion of the population with untreated root surface caries report prevalences ranging from 17% for those over the age of30 years to 37% for over 50 years of age (Locket et al 1989). No data is available for Sri Lanka. Therefore a preliminary study was carried out to assess the prevalence of root caries in a Sri Lankan population. The sample for this study consisted of 85 patients aged 40 years and over from the village ofPanwilatenna in Udapalatha Divisional Secretariat in the Kandy District of the Central province of Sri Lanka. A visual intra-oral examination for caries was performed using a mouth mirror and explorer. Teeth present and root carious lesions were recorded on a custom designed form along with demographic data relating to the age and sex. The root caries index (RCI) proposed by Katz(1980) was used to record root caries. The index is represented in the following manner:
(FORMULA)
The RCI was calculated for each subject and the mean RCI scores by age and sex was analyzed. A total of 85 subjects aged between 40 and 80 years examined, 60 were females and 25were males. For the females; mean Root Caries Index was 0.65 and SD was. 1.61. For the males; mean RCI was 2.15 and SD was 6.60
(CHART)
The results highlight the fact that Root Caries Index tends to increase with age and to be higher in males. RCI is increasing after the age of 50 years in females. These figures for both sexes are lower than those reported by other researchers abroad.
Description
Keywords
Cemental caries , Root caries index , Health Sciences
Citation
Proceedings & Abstracts of the Annual Research Sessions,1998,University of Peradeniya, peradeniya, Sri Lanka, pp.52