Dental caries is an ancient disease that has been
found in skulls from all over the world where
primitive man lived in isolated areas and the diet
lacked refined and carbohydrate-rich food.
During the 17th century, sugar became more
available and cheaper in Europe and the diet
changed to more refined food. As a result, caries
became an endemic problem that persisted
through the ensuing centuries. Today,
demographic predictors view root caries as an
emerging significant patient management issue
of the next decade as more elderly population
retain their natural teeth