Tooth surface loss in adult subjects attending a university dental clinic in Trinidad.
OBJECTIVE
To determine the prevalence of tooth surface loss (TSL) in a sample of subjects attending a university dental clinic in Trinidad and to investigate the relationship to tooth brushing, medical history, parafunction and dietary habits.


METHODS
Tooth surface loss was measured clinically by the index used in the 1998 UK, Adult Dental Health Survey.


METHODS
Trinidad, West Indies.


METHODS
Convenience sample of adult subjects attending The University of the West Indies Dental School Polyclinic, Mount Hope.


METHODS
A questionnaire was administered and tooth surface loss measured clinically.


METHODS
mild, moderate and severe tooth surface loss.


RESULTS
155 subjects were examined (mean age 40.6 years) of whom 72% had some degree of TSL with the majority (52%), exhibiting mild, 16% with moderate and 4% with severe TSL. There were associations found between TSL and age (OR=3.14), reflux (OR=1.37), parafunction (OR=1.06), weekly consumption of citrus fruits (OR=1.31) and soft drinks (OR=1.78), daily consumption of alcohol (OR=1.40) and a vegetarian diet (OR=2.79).


CONCLUSIONS
Tooth surface loss in this Trinidadian population group appears to be common. Data supports an association between TSL and age, reflux parafunction and certain dietary patterns.
Rafeek
R N
RN
School of Dentistry, Faculty of Medical Sciences, The University of the West Indies, Mount Hope, Trinidad & Tobago. reisha@trinidad.net
Marchan
S
S
Eder
A
A
Smith
W A J
WA
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D000434:Alcoholic Beverages / Q000009:adverse effects; D002253:Carbonated Beverages / Q000009:adverse effects; D002957:Citrus / Q000009:adverse effects; D004032:Diet / Q000009:adverse effects; D004942:Esophagitis, Peptic / Q000150:complications; D005260:Female; D006184:Habits; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016017:Odds Ratio; D015995:Prevalence; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014072:Tooth Abrasion / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology; D019217:Tooth Attrition / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology; D014077:Tooth Erosion / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology; D014099:Toothbrushing / Q000009:adverse effects*; D014300:Trinidad and Tobago / Q000453:epidemiology