Abstract
A total of 125 people, aged from 38 to 86 years, were examined for exposed root surfaces, root surface caries and caries activity of dental plaque.
Denture wearers and non-wearers were examined in this study. The following results were obtained:
1. The percentages of exposed root surfaces increased in people up to ages 60 to 70. The percentages of root surface caries showed a tendency to be higher in elderly people, especially in their 60's, 70's and 80's.
Caries activity was especially higher in the 80's group. 2. Denture wearers had more exposed root surfaces (p<0.05), and were a little more likely to have root surface caries than non-wearers. Caries activity of denture wearers was nearly the same as that of nonwearers.
3. Teeth with low caries activity did not have root surface caries. The higher the caries activity became, the higher the percentages of root surface caries became. These results indicate that dental plaque related to root surface caries according to caries activity test.
