“Our results show that root caries in older adults is not only a clinical finding, but also something that clearly affects the quality of life. This highlights, once again, the importance of prevention and early intervention,” says Professor and Senior Researcher Aida Mulic at NIOM.
Photo: NIOM/Sturla Bakken
What is this about?
This study investigates which factors are linked with root caries (tooth decay on root surfaces) in older adults (65 years and older) in Norway, and whether having root caries is associated with worse oral health-related quality of life (OHRQoL).
The data came from the Tromsø7 population study, which included both clinical examinations and questionnaires.
What did the researchers find out?
The study included 1,075 participants aged 65+ who underwent dental exams and answered questionnaires. Root caries was recorded on four surfaces per tooth, then participants were classified as having root caries (on at least one surface) or not.
Statistical analyses explored associations between root caries and various demographic, behavioral, and health-related factors, as well as the link to OHRQoL.
They tested which risk indicators were more common among those with root caries, and whether those with root caries reported worse quality of life related to oral health.
Key results from the project
- Amongst others, gender and smoking emerged as risk indicators: men had about 1.7 times higher odds of root caries compared to women, and current smokers had ~1.8 times higher odds compared to never-smokers.
- People with root caries had 1.67 times higher odds of reporting a reduced oral health–related quality of life than those without root caries.
- Thus, having root caries is not only a dental health issue, but is also associated with a measurable decline in how older adults perceive their oral well-being.
These findings suggest that targeted preventive measures, especially for men and smokers in older age groups could help reduce both dental disease and its negative impact on daily life.