The relationship between aging and oral health inequalities assessed by the DMFT index.

Aim: A cross-sectional study to determine the caries experience characteristics and their relationship with aging. Materials and Methods: Using stratified sampling method, 748 subjects divided into 3 age groups of 11-14, 14-17 and 17-20 year-olds (355 females and 393 males, aged 15.11 ± 2.23 years) were examined in urban area of Isfahan (Iran). The DMFT scores (DT, MT, FT) were recorded. The Student t-test was used to assess any differences in the mean DMFT score between genders. Simple (DMFT >0), severe caries experience (DMFT >8), severe form of filling (FT>3), and decay (DT>6) were calculated. Chi-square tests were performed to assess any relationship between gender and DMFT variables. Binary logistic regression was used to estimate the predictive value of gender and age groups for the DMFT categories dichotomized into presence or absence of DMFT-related variable. Scatter plots and Spearman rank correlation coefficients were used to explore the relationships between the DMFT (DT, MT, FT) and participant's age. Results: The mean DMFT values for the sample, 11-14, 14-17 and 17-20 year-olds were 4.94, 3.03, 5 and 6.66, respectively. Caries prevalence (DMFT >0) and active caries prevalence (DT >0) were 88.8% and 81.8%, respectively. Prevalence of active caries (DT) did not vary significantly between genders; however, prevalence of fillings (FT) was higher in females (OR 1.96, 95% CI, 1.45-2.67). The odds of experiencing caries (DMFT, DT, FT) increased with increase in participant's age. Prevalence of subjects with DT>6 was higher in males than in females (OR 1.50, 95% CI, 1.04-2.01). Prevalence of subjects with FT>3 was higher in females than in males (OR 1.74, 95% CI, 1.10-2.73). Significant positive correlations existed between the participant's age and DMFT (rho 0.40), DT (rho 0.34) and FT scores (rho 0.194), respectively. Conclusion: Caries experience was highly prevalent in our sample. With increase in age, there was an upward trend in caries prevalence and mean DMFT.