Worldwide, about 2.43 billion people (36% of the population) have cavities in their permanent teeth.[10] In baby teeth it affects about 620 million people or 9% of the population.[10] The disease is more common in Latin American countries, countries in the Middle East, and South Asia, and less prevalent in China.[140] In the United States, dental caries is the most common chronic childhood disease, at least five times more common than asthma.[141] This is the leading pathological cause of tooth loss in children.[142] Between 29% and 59% of adults over the age of 50 experience caries. [143]
Treating dental caries costs 5-10% of healthcare budgets in industrialized countries, and budgets in low-income countries can easily be exceeded.[144]
The number of cases has decreased in some developed countries, and this decline is usually attributed to increased oral hygiene practices and preventive measures such as fluoride treatment.[145] However, countries that have seen an overall decrease in the incidence of dental caries still have an uneven distribution of the disease. [143] Among children in the United States and Europe, 20 percent of the population suffers from 60 to 80 percent of dental caries.[146] There is a similarly skewed distribution of the disease worldwide with some children having no caries or very few teething and others having a large number.[143] Australia, Nepal, and Sweden (where children receive government-paid dental care) have lower incidences of dental caries among children, while cases are higher in Costa Rica and Slovakia.[147]
The classic DMF (decay/missing/filled) index is one of the most popular ways to assess the prevalence of dental caries as well as dental treatment needs in a population. This indicator is based on clinical examination of individuals in the field using a probe, mirror, and cotton swabs. Because DMF is done without x-rays, it reduces the prevalence of true caries and treatment needs.[89]
Bacteria commonly associated with dental caries were isolated from vaginal samples from females with bacterial vaginosis [148].
