Journal of Dental Research, Vol 69, 1211-1215, Copyright © 1990 by International & American Associations for Dental Research Online Journals
Clinical signs of root caries: measurement issues from an epidemiologic perspective
R. V. Katz
Department of Behavioral Sciences & Community Health, School of Dental Medicine, University of Connecticut Health Center, Farmington 06032.
The measurement of root caries using a relatively precise, utilitarian, and
universally-acceptable methodology based upon clinical signs is a critical
and necessary step in the progression of the epidemiologic study of this
oral disease. While a clinician directly involved in the care of a patient
will always incorporate spontaneous judgment-based-upon-experience into the
diagnostic process, the clinical investigator must rely upon a much more
standardized approach to the diagnosis of root caries. A comprehensive
overview of the current epidemiologic research findings and methodologic
literature for root caries precedes a series of discussions on methodologic
issues that relate to the measurement of root caries in epidemiologic study
conditions. Topics discussed include: (1) appropriate categories of lesions
for inclusion (active vs. inactive and supragingival vs. subgingival
lesions), (2) surface visibility issues (clinical treatment effects and
oral debris accumulations), and (3) examination techniques (examination
instruments and use of radiographs). The final section of this article
proposes seven diagnostic conventions for use by investigators when they
are diagnosing root caries in descriptive, analytical, and experimental
epidemiologic studies.
