The prevalence of tooth wear in a cluster sample of adolescent schoolchildren and its relationship with potential explanatory factors.
OBJECTIVE
To assess the prevalence of tooth wear in adolescents and its relationship with diet, saliva and gastro-oesophageal reflux.


METHODS
Single centre cluster sample epidemiological study.


METHODS
A school in London in the summer of 1996.


METHODS
11-14-year-old schoolchildren.


METHODS
The Smith and Knight tooth wear index (TWI), salivary factors, diet and symptoms of gastro-oesophageal reflux were recorded for all subjects.


RESULTS
Results were obtained from 210 subjects. One subject refused to provide a saliva sample and 11 subjects provided insufficient saliva for analysis of buffering power (n = 198). 57% (95% confidence intervals 50.3-63.7%) of subjects had tooth wear on more than ten teeth and a median 12% (interquartile range 6-18%, 95% confidence intervals 8-14%) of surfaces were affected. However, dentine involvement was rare. The median intake of carbonated drinks was 2 cans (interquartile range 1-3) a day. However, there was no correlation with TWI (r = -0.09, P = 0.19). There was no relationship between tooth wear index (TWI) and salivary flow rate (r = -0.02, P = 0.78) or buffering capacity (r = -0.02, P = 0.76). A trend was observed for those with a reported history of regurgitation (n = 27) to have a higher maxillary TWI (median 8, interquartile range 2-13) compared with those who did not (5, 2-9, P = 0.06).


CONCLUSIONS
Tooth wear is common in adolescents and the relationship with dietary acid, salivary buffering and symptoms of gastro-oesophageal reflux is complex and requires further investigation.
Bartlett
D W
DW
Department of Conservative Dentistry, UMDS, Guy's Dental Hospital, London Bridge.
Coward
P Y
PY
Nikkah
C
C
Wilson
R F
RF
D000293:Adolescent; D001641:Bicuspid / Q000473:pathology; D002021:Buffers; D002253:Carbonated Beverages / Q000009:adverse effects; D002648:Child; D016001:Confidence Intervals; D003743:Dental Enamel / Q000473:pathology; D003804:Dentin / Q000473:pathology; D004032:Diet; D016021:Epidemiologic Studies; D005260:Female; D005638:Fruit; D005764:Gastroesophageal Reflux / Q000150:complications; D006801:Humans; D007180:Incisor / Q000473:pathology; D008131:London; D008297:Male; D008437:Maxilla; D008963:Molar / Q000473:pathology; D015588:Observer Variation; D015995:Prevalence; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012463:Saliva / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology; D012636:Secretory Rate; D019217:Tooth Attrition / Q000209:etiology*; D019237:Tooth Cervix / Q000473:pathology; D014077:Tooth Erosion / Q000209:etiology*; D014504:Urban Health
D002021:Buffers