Variation in tooth wear in young adults over a two-year period.
BACKGROUND
Although all the processes of loss of hard tissue are important, attrition on the occlusal surfaces commands our attention.


OBJECTIVE
The enamel wear rate of 18 young adults over 2 consecutive years was measured independently by volume loss and mean depth loss. Any significant differences in tooth wear resulting from gender and a clinical diagnosis of bruxism were identified.


METHODS
A strict protocol for dental impressions provided epoxy models, which were digitized with a null point contact stylus. AnSur software provided a complete morphologic description of changes in the wear facets.


RESULTS
The mean loss for all teeth measured was 0.04 mm3 by volume and 10.7 microns by depth for the first year.


CONCLUSIONS
These numbers were approximately doubled at 2 years of cumulative wear.
Pintado
M R
MR
School of Dentistry, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, USA.
Anderson
G C
GC
DeLong
R
R
Douglas
W H
WH
D000328:Adult; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D002012:Bruxism / Q000150:complications; D003627:Data Interpretation, Statistical; D003769:Dental Occlusion, Traumatic / Q000150:complications; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007091:Image Processing, Computer-Assisted; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012737:Sex Factors; D014072:Tooth Abrasion / Q000209:etiology; D019217:Tooth Attrition / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology / Q000473:pathology