Non-Biological and Biological Risk Indicators for Tooth Wear Outcomes in Adults

Abstract

This study was undertaken to estimate the prevalence and severity of tooth wear (TW), as well as to assess non-biological and biological risk indicators for TW outcomes in adults. A cross-sectional study, adhering to the reporting STROBE guidelines, was conducted and had a convenience sample of adults ≥18 years of age who had at least one bilateral posterior molar contact. A total of 570 participants, seeking consultation at the University Hospital in Brussels, Belgium, were allocated to three age groups: 18–34 years (<i>n</i> = 232), 35–54 years (<i>n</i> = 256), and ≥55 years old (<i>n</i> = 79). Participants answered a self-applied questionnaire regarding sociodemographics, oral hygiene, and lifestyle behavior. The questionnaire was tested-retested (intraclass correlation coefficient = 0.71). Inter-examiner reliability for clinical examinations was <i>k</i> = 0.76–0.80. The prevalence of TW was 75% (95% CI: 71.7–78.9). Out of these patients, 42% (95% CI: 38.0–46.3) had as the primary etiological factor the process of dental erosion, while 22% (95% CI: 18.9–25.9) and 11% (95% CI: 8.6–13.9) had the processes of dental attrition and dental abrasion, respectively. The severity of TW according to BEWE highest score was mild in 31%, moderate in 28%, and severe in 17% of participants. The hierarchical logistic regression model for the association between risk indicators and TW irrespective of the etiology was significant for age (>35–54 years: OR = 2.35 and ≥55 years: OR = 3.89; <i>p</i> < 0.001), gender (>male: OR = 2.03; <i>p</i> < 0.001), toothpaste (>sensitive teeth: OR = 2.34; <i>p</i> = 0.005), occlusal splint (>yes: OR = 1.62; <i>p</i> = 0.03), and acidic beverages (≥once per day: OR = 1.62; <i>p</i> = 0.044). Consumption of acidic beverages was not associated with TW having as the primary etiological factor the process of dental attrition or dental abrasion, while it was significantly associated with the process of dental erosion (>once per week: OR = 1.69; <i>p</i> = 0.043 and ≥once per day: OR = 1.73; <i>p</i> = 0.016). Medical conditions were equally associated with the latter (OR = 3.11; <i>p</i> < 0.001). These findings could contribute to improving the effectiveness and sustainability of awareness in contemporary adult populations. In conclusion, the prevalence and severity of TW in adults were substantial. Medical conditions and consumption of acidic beverages were risk indicators for TW having as the primary etiological factor the process of dental erosion, although associations were moderate and weak, respectively.

Risk factors of tooth wear in permanent dentition: A scoping review

“…Among all factors associated with TW, the sociodemographic factors were the most frequently studied in this scoping review (68.9% of included studies, n = 188) 2–5,20–197 . Sex and age represented 58.6% and 46.9% of studies in this category (Table 1).…”

“…Dental factors in 23.4% of included studies 5,24,26,31,35,40,48,49,52,54,55,58,60,62,65,79–81,90,99,101,103,109,118,122,123,128,130,134,136,137,139,148,149,152,156,166,170,171,173–175,177,178,184,189,193,194,205,213,229,233,259,276–283 showed caries was significantly associated with TW in 3 out of 16 studies. Five of nine showed that a low number of teeth on the arches was significantly associated with high occlusal wear.…”

“…Studies on drinking habits were more in the literature, with 56.4% of articles included in this review (Table 1, Appendix ) 2–5,22,24–27,29–34,37,38,40,43,44,47–49,51,53,54,57,60,61,66,68,70–75,77–80,83–85,87,90,91,94–98,100,101,104,106–114,118–127,129,130,132,136,138,139,142–144,147,148,151,153–155,159,160,162,165–167,169,173–175,177–180,182,183,185,187,188,190,195–197,199,200,203–206,211,213,216,217,221,223,228–231,234,239,243,244,249,257–268 …”

“…The influence of oral hygiene habits on TW was studied in 38.5% of included studies, 2,5,20,24,26,30–32,37,38,40,43,44,47,48,50,51,60,63,65,66,68,70–72,79,81,83,85,88,90,94,95,97,98,100,101,104,106–108,110,111,113–115,118–120,122,124,127,129,130,132,134–136,138,142–144,146–148,150,152,159,160,165,166,169,172–174,178,182–184,187,190,193–195,197,199,203,206,213,216,223,224,228,229,233,267,274,275 particularly toothbrushing frequency (15.8% of studies in this category) was reported to be significantly associated with TW in 11 studies out of 43 (Table 1). For example, in a study of 2160 Chinese adults, a daily brushing frequency of ≥ twice a day significantly increased the likelihood of wear lesions 79 .…”

“…Medical history was the second most frequently studied factor (67% of included studies; n = 183), 2,3,5,22–24,26–35,38,40,42–44,47,49–51,53,56–58,60–64,68–70,74,75,77,78,80,81,83,85,87,90–92,94–96,98,101,102,104–108,110,111,113,114,119–130,132,136–138,140–144,147,148,151,153–157,159,161,162,166,167,169,172,173,176–178, 180,181,185,188–190,194,196,197,199–256 and 27 studies were exclusively dedicated to this topic. The influence of the presence of GORD, stomach upset or heartburn was the most studied factor from this category, with 35.2% of studies included in this scoping review (96 out of 273).…”