Biomaterial Database

Indices of root surface caries. 1990

C A Aherne, and D O'Mullane, and B E Barrett

University Dental School, Wilton, Cork, Ireland.

Despite the increasing international interest in recent years in the epidemiology of root surface caries, there is no agreement on the diagnostic criteria to be used when the condition is recorded. In this paper the different methods used by dental epidemiologists are reviewed. It is shown that the wide variation in the levels of root surface caries recorded among different populations could be due to differences in the diagnostic methods as well as to inherent differences in the prevalence of the condition. It is recommended that an attempt be made to reach a global consensus on the methods of diagnosing root surface caries. Also, it is suggested that in reports of epidemiological studies of root surface caries, a basic set of tables including details of tooth loss be included.

UI	MeSH Term	Description	Entries
D003731	Dental Caries	Localized destruction of the tooth surface initiated by decalcification of the enamel followed by enzymatic lysis of organic structures and leading to cavity formation. If left unchecked, the cavity may penetrate the enamel and dentin and reach the pulp.	Caries, Dental,Carious Lesions,Dental Cavities,Dental Cavity,Dental Decay,Dental White Spots,Carious Dentin,Decay, Dental,Dental White Spot,White Spot, Dental,White Spots, Dental,Carious Dentins,Carious Lesion,Cavities, Dental,Cavity, Dental,Dentin, Carious,Dentins, Carious,Lesion, Carious,Lesions, Carious,Spot, Dental White,Spots, Dental White
D003753	Dental Health Surveys	A systematic collection of factual data pertaining to dental or oral health and disease in a human population within a given geographic area.	Dental Health Survey,Health Survey, Dental,Health Surveys, Dental,Survey, Dental Health,Surveys, Dental Health
D004812	Epidemiologic Methods	Research techniques that focus on study designs and data gathering methods in human and animal populations.	Epidemiologic Method,Epidemiological Methods,Methods, Epidemiologic,Epidemiological Method,Method, Epidemiologic,Method, Epidemiological,Methods, Epidemiological
D006801	Humans	Members of the species Homo sapiens.	Homo sapiens,Man (Taxonomy),Human,Man, Modern,Modern Man
D014092	Tooth Root	The part of a tooth from the neck to the apex, embedded in the alveolar process and covered with cementum. A root may be single or divided into several branches, usually identified by their relative position, e.g., lingual root or buccal root. Single-rooted teeth include mandibular first and second premolars and the maxillary second premolar teeth. The maxillary first premolar has two roots in most cases. Maxillary molars have three roots. (Jablonski, Dictionary of Dentistry, 1992, p690)	Root, Tooth,Roots, Tooth,Tooth Roots
D014943	Global Health	A multi- and interdisciplinary field concerned with improving health and achieving equity in health for all people. It transcends national boundaries, promotes cooperation and collaboration within and beyond health science fields, and combines population-based disease prevention with individually-based patient care.	International Health Problems,World Health,International Health,Worldwide Health,Health Problem, International,Health Problems, International,Health, Global,Health, International,Health, World,Health, Worldwide,Healths, International,International Health Problem,International Healths,Problem, International Health,Problems, International Health