For a comparative study of root caries, 502 adult lifelong residents of a naturally fluoridated community (1.6 ppm F) and 465 such residents of a nearby, comparable nonfluoridated community (0.2 ppm F) were examined. Substantially fewer carious lesions were found among adults in the fluoridated community relative to the nonfluoridated community. This was observed in virtually all age- and gender-specific groups. Given a cross-sectional design and considering only exposed root surfaces, root caries was related to age. In addition, the data from this study show that the number of root caries lesions is underestimated but that root caries prevalence is overestimated by the standard Root Caries Index (RCI). A less restrictive form of the RCI may lead to more valid estimation of root caries prevalence.

This article has been cited by other articles:

				S.O. Griffin, E. Regnier, P.M. Griffin, and V. Huntley Effectiveness of Fluoride in Preventing Caries in Adults J. Dent. Res., May 1, 2007; 86(5): 410 - 415. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				J. A. Lalumandier and L. W. Ayers Fluoride and Bacterial Content of Bottled Water vs Tap Water Arch Fam Med, March 1, 2000; 9(3): 246 - 250. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]