Abstract: Objective: To comprehensively assess the pooled prevalence and epidemiological characteristics of root caries in the elderly in China, and to provide basic information for the development of relevant oral prevention and health care plans. Methods: The epidemiological survey of Chinese elderly root caries was published from January 2000 to June 2018. A meta-analysis was used to calculate the pooled prevalence of root caries and epidemiological characteristics. Results: A total of 18 epidemiological reports on root caries in the elderly in different parts of mainland China were included, and 7160 patients with root caries were included. The overall caries rate was 33.4%. The male and female prevalence rates were 36.3% and 36.2% (P=0.534). The prevalence rates of urban and rural elderly were 31.3% and 31.8% (P=0.9435). The prevalence rates of the elderly in the southern and northern provinces were 39.1% and 30.7%, respectively (P=0.037). Conclusion: The pooled prevalence of root caries in Chinese elderly was about 33.4%. The epidemiological characteristics were that the root caries rate of the elderly in the southern provinces was higher than that of the elderly in the northern provinces. The pooled prevalence of root caries between gender (male and female) or place of residence (urban and rural) was not significant different.

Key words: Old-aged, Root caries, Caries rate, Epidemiology