A sampling survey of permanent crown-root caries in 55-74-year-old population in Guangdong Province (2015-2016)

To investigate the current status of caries on permanent teeth in a population of 55-74-year-old in Guangdong Province, thus to provide scientific basis for the establishment of oral health care policies in Guangdong.

An equal-sized stratified multi-stage randomly sampling design was applied to obtain representative sample groups consisted of 288 Guangdong residents each, aged at either 55-64 or 65-74 years old, with a gender ratio of half to half. The caries on the crowns and roots of permanent teeth were assessed according to "The Guideline for the 4th National Oral Health Survey"; thereafter the prevalence and mean DFT (decayed and filled tooth) of permanent teeth were calculated.

In the population of 55-64-year-old, the prevalence of crown caries was 77.08%, with a mean DFT of 2.94, and a filled rate of 21.87%; while the prevalence of root caries was 59.38%, with a mean DFT of 1.82, and a filled rate of 9.18%; and the prevalence of residual roots was 46.18%. In the population of 65-74-year-old, the prevalence of crown caries was 81.25%, with a mean DFT of 3.45, and a filled rate of 16.40%; while the prevalence of root caries was 63.19%, with a mean DFT of 2.34, and a filled rate of 9.18%; and the prevalence of residual roots was 50.35%. In the population of 55-64-year-old, the prevalence and the mean DFT of crown caries were higher in female when compared to male. And the mean DFT of root caries were higher in countryside when compared to the urban opponents. In the population of 65-74-year-old, the female had higher mean DFT score in crown caries than that in male. And the prevalence of caries of root and mean DFT of root caries were higher in countryside than that in the urban opponents.

There was a high level of crown and root caries in Guangdong adults, while the filling rate was low, most of the involved teeth were not filled.