The natural history and clinical course of calculus formation in man

This paper describes levels and progression of supra- and subgingival calculus undisturbed by active professional intervention or home care between 1970 and 1985 in Sri Lanka, or when removed at regular intervals between 1969 and 1988 in Norway. In the Sri Lankan tea laborers, both supra- and subgingival calculus formation started before age 14 years. At 40 years of age, all participants and almost all teeth and tooth surfaces had calculus. Tea laborers who both smoked tobacco and chewed betel had significantly higher calculus scores than those who only had one of these habits, and those who neither chewed nor smoked had the lowest calculus scores. Teeth with calculus showed a significantly higher rate of loss of attachment than teeth that remained calculus free. For the Norwegians who had enjoyed regular dental care throughout their lives, supragingival calculus did not increase in frequency from adolescence to the forties. Approximately 70% of the interproximal surfaces were calculus free after 40-50 years of age. Subgingival calculus scores, although low, showed some increase with longer times of exposure. On average, each person had 0.4 interproximal surfaces with subgingival calculus as they approached 50 years of age. In this Norwegian population, subgingival calculus had no impact on loss of attachment.