Association between attachment loss and root caries in middle-aged and elderly people in Guizhou Province, China.

BACKGROUND: To investigate the relationship between clinical attachment loss (CAL) and its related factors and root caries in middle-aged and elderly people in Guizhou, China, and to provide a theoretical basis for the prevention and treatment of root caries in middle-aged and elderly people. METHODS: The study included a sample of 3960 people aged 35–44 and 65–74 years who underwent oral examinations and questionnaires. The association between CAL and root surface caries was analysed using logistic regression models, adjusting for socio-demographic background, general health behaviour, oral health behaviour, presence of chronic diseases and crown caries. After adjusting for all variables, subgroup analyses were performed by age and sex. RESULTS: The prevalence of root caries in the sample population was 22.51% in the age group of 35–44 years and 74.63% in the age group of 65–74 years. CAL ≥ 6 mm was positively associate with root surface caries (OR: 1.99, 95% CI: 1.50–2.63). The caries prevalence rates corresponding to CAL from low to high were 28.67%, 58.22% and 75.63% respectively, and this significance was maintained in the regression analysis model. Increasing age was positively associated with the development of root caries (OR: 4.88, 95% CI: 3.86–6.17). Economic area, years of education, dental cleaning within one year and crown caries were influential factors for root caries. CONCLUSIONS: The prevalence of root caries is high among the elderly in Guizhou, China, and attachment loss is associated with a higher incidence of root caries, so health education on oral caries and loss of periodontal attachment knowledge should be actively carried out among those with high attachment loss to improve their oral hygiene.