Progression of dental caries and tooth loss between the third and fourth decades of life: a birth cohort study

Abstracts on this page have been chosen and edited by Dr Trevor Watts

Abstract

From 26 to 32 yrs of age, many teeth were lost because of caries.

Main

Broadbent JM, Thomson WM et al. Caries Res 2006; 40: 459–465

There is little evidence on caries progression in adults. In this study, 89% of survivors in a predominantly white New Zealand cohort born in 1972-3 were dentally examined at ages 26 and 32 yrs, a total of 901 subjects.

At ages 26 and 32, respective mean DFS scores were 12.8 and 14.7. Over the period, the mean number of teeth lost through caries increased from 0.2 to 0.6, while tooth loss from other causes increased from 1.8 to 2.2. Most of the caries experience occurred in posterior teeth, and least in lower anterior teeth. At 26, there were no implants and at 32, 6 subjects had them. No carious retained roots were present at 26, but by age 32, 21 subjects had them.

The authors consider the effects of caries to be substantial, and suggest that there is significantly increased tooth loss in this age group.