Erosive Tooth Wear and Related Risk Factors in 8- and 14-Year-Old Greek Children

Abstract

The aim of the present study was to investigate the erosive tooth wear of primary and permanent teeth and its association with related risk factors. Two groups of Greek children aged 8 (n = 329) and 14 years (n = 263) were examined in the classroom using the Basic Erosive Wear Examination (BEWE) index. Data concerning risk factors were collected using questionnaires. Dental caries (DMFS/dmfs) was also recorded. The data were analyzed using the t test, one-way ANOVA, multiple regression analysis, Fisher's exact test, and the χ² test. In the 8-year-olds, the primary teeth showed a predominantly medium level of wear and the permanent teeth no wear. A majority of the 14-year-olds exhibited low risk levels of wear. The most frequently affected dental surface in both age groups was the occlusal surface of the mandibular posterior teeth. In the 8-year-olds, BEWE scores and the prevalence of wear in the primary teeth was influenced by gender (p = 0.020). In their permanent teeth, soft drink consumption (p < 0.0001) and preference for lemon/vinegar (p = 0.041) significantly affected wear prevalence and BEWE scores, while habitually retaining soft drinks in the mouth influenced wear prevalence (p = 0.008), risk (p = 0.004), and BEWE scores (p = 0.022). In the 14-year-olds, wear prevalence was significantly affected by the consumption of lemon-flavored candies (p = 0.016) and soft drinks (p = 0.050). BEWE scores were significantly affected by gender (p = 0.022) and soft drink consumption (p = 0.030). Gender influenced tooth wear risk in both age groups (p = 0.010 and p = 0.021, respectively). The results of this study indicate that erosive tooth wear differed between primary and permanent teeth and was influenced by gender and dietary factors.

The Influence of Behavioural and Sociodemographic Risk Indicators on Erosive Tooth Wear in Flemish Adolescents, Belgium

“…With respect to gender, a number of studies support the assumption that males have higher prevalence rates of ETW compared with females [van Rijkom et al, 2002;Dugmore and Rock, 2004a;Alvarez Loureiro et al, 2015;Alves et al, 2015;Hasselkvist et al, 2016;Provatenou et al, 2016]. However, in agreement with some other studies, the present study did not find any differences between gender and the presence of ETW, even when age restriction was applied [Correr et al, 2009;Zhang et al, 2014;Muller-Bolla et al, 2015].…”

“…Despite this finding, severe cases were uncommon, and only 14.4% of the cases were considered at low risk and in need of preventive measures according to Bartlett et al [2008]. Comparable figures were shown in recent studies using the BEWE index in adolescents, where despite the overall prevalence rate, the majority of cases were not severely affected [Zhang et al, 2014;Alvarez Loureiro et al, 2015;Alves et al, 2015;Muller-Bolla et al, 2015;Provatenou et al, 2016]. Nonetheless, Belgium showed the lowest prevalence among the European countries evaluated using the BEWE index (56.6% for France and 58 and 79% for Greece) [Margaritis et al, 2011;Muller-Bolla et al, 2015;Provatenou et al, 2016].…”

“…Other behavioural risk indicators have been associated with an increase of ETW in the literature [Mulic et al, 2012;Muller-Bolla et al, 2015;Provatenou et al, 2016]. Therefore, a list of possible behavioural risk indicators such as oral hygiene habits, manner of acidic beverage consumption, consumption of chewing gum, and exposure to intrinsic acids (vomiting, reflux) were investigated in this study (Table 1).…”

“…Since its proposal, a variety of studies using this index in adolescents have been published, with results ranging from 15 to 79% (BEWE sum >0) [Margaritis et al, 2011;Vered et al, 2014;Zhang et al, 2014;Alvarez Loureiro et al, 2015;Alves et al, 2015;Muller-Bolla et al, 2015;Provatenou et al, 2016].…”

Socioeconomic Status and Dental Wear --- A correlation

“…Although there is lack of evidence on association of tooth wear and Socioeconomic status [11]. A study by Millward et al, demonstrated increased incidence of tooth wear among higher socioeconomic status group children [12]. Majority of studies reporting tooth wear association with socioeconomic status are on school going children [13,14].…”