[Dental caries in the elderly. 1. Prevalence and risk factors].

This article reports declining edentulousness and caries risk among elderly in good general health. Recurrent caries in the cementum is the prevalent type of lesion. Caries risk is highest in mandibular molars and lowest in mandibular front teeth. Elevated caries risk in the elderly may be associated with a delay in the oral sugar clearance. The reason may be a decline in salivary glandular function, for which risk factors are: 1. being a female; 2: suffering from hypertension, rheumatoid arthritis, or uncontrolled diabetes; and 3. using neuroleptics, ataraxica, beta-blocking agents and L-dopa. Delayed oral sugar clearance may also result from less efficient chewing and swallowing caused by a general decline in motoric functions. Topical use of fluorides affects caries progression directly, and has therefore a greater potential for effectiveness in elderly caries risk subjects than precautions aiming at controlling plaque and sugar time.