Education About Dental Erosion in U.S. and Canadian Dental Schools

Abstract

Dental erosion (DE) is a well‐accepted multifactorial form of tooth wear involving acids. Due to its irreversible nature, recognizing the early signs is important to develop appropriate preventive strategies. However, its place in dental curricula remains unclear. Consensus has not been established regarding the integration of erosive tooth wear into core cariology curricula in North America. The extent to which DE is taught is questionable since etiology, risk assessment, and management are not all the same as for dental caries. The aim of this study was to survey U.S. and Canadian dental schools regarding their teaching of DE. Email invitations were sent to deans, chairs, and selected faculty members at all 76 U.S. and Canadian dental schools in 2016, asking them to either respond or forward the survey‐link provided to the appropriate person in their school. Responses from the same school were combined for analysis. Respondents from 59 schools (77.6% response rate) responded to the survey, and all of them confirmed the inclusion of DE in their curricula. However, only 15.3% of respondents identified correctly all the clinical signs of DE. Although management through behavioral intervention was prioritized, diet analysis was often not a clinical requirement, and 45.8% of respondents did not teach any type of tooth wear index for monitoring. This study concluded that DE has a place in dental curricula, but whether this topic is adequately covered is questionable. There is a need to establish clearer topics and requirements emphasizing the diagnosis and management of DE, potentially in cariology curricula.

Contemporary diagnosis and management of dental erosion

“…A recent survey of US and Canadian dental school confirmed that the inclusion of dental erosion in the curriculum remains questionnable. 14 Results showed that although the topic is taught, only 15.3% of respondents identified correctly all the clinical signs of dental erosion and that 45.8% did not teach any type of tooth wear index for monitoring. Since etiology, risk assessment, and management are not similar to dental caries, it is debatable whether dental erosion will be integrated into core cariology curricula as has been suggested.…”

“…A recent survey of US and Canadian dental school confirmed that the inclusion of dental erosion in the curriculum remains questionnable 14 . Results showed that although the topic is taught, only 15.3% of respondents identified correctly all the clinical signs of dental erosion and that 45.8% did not teach any type of tooth wear index for monitoring.…”

Diagnosis, risk assessment, and treatment decisions for tooth wear in daily practice: a case presentation survey among Belgian dentists

“…Overall, case presentations with pathological tooth wear were significantly less likely to be associated with dentists working in private practice than with their peers working at university hospitals. This finding indicates that university teachers should continue their efforts to improve communication and awareness of tooth wear when teaching undergraduates and giving continuing education courses [23, 26].…”

Knowledge of and attitudes towards erosive tooth wear among students of two Chinese universities

“…Dental subjects are covered predominantly in the 3rd and 4th years of undergraduate education in China, resulting in excessive levels of academic stress and depression [28]. Moreover, although the subject of erosive tooth wear is included in the curriculum of most Chinese dental schools, it is not considered a core topic, which is similar to the U.S. and Canada [29]. The abovementioned facts may contribute to a lack of understanding of the risk factors of erosive tooth wear among Chinese DSs.…”