Dental erosion amongst 13- and 14-year-old Brazilian schoolchildren.
OBJECTIVE
To assess the prevalence of dental erosion in a sample of 13- and 14-year-old Brazilian schoolchildren and to assess the relationship of dental erosion and socio-demographic characteristics.


METHODS
A convenience sample of 458 children (190 boys and 268 girls) from 14 schools in Três Corações, south east Brazil, was examined. Socio-demographic data were collected by self-completion questionnaires.


RESULTS
Dental erosion was observed in 34.1% of subjects, involving enamel only and showing a symmetrical distribution. The palatal surfaces of the upper incisors were the most commonly affected surfaces. Erosion experience was higher in boys; pupils from Government funded schools; those resident in rural areas and those from the high economic class, but none of these were statistically significant.


CONCLUSIONS
These data are the first to show that in a cohort of 13-14-year old Brazilian schoolchildren, approximately one third of those examined showed mild erosion, requiring clinical preventive counselling. No statistically significant association was observed between erosion, gender and socioeconomic factors.
Auad
Sheyla M
SM
The School of Dental Sciences, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK.
Waterhouse
Paula J
PJ
Nunn
June H
JH
Steen
Nick
N
Moynihan
Paula J
PJ
D000293:Adolescent; D001938:Brazil / Q000453:epidemiology; D015331:Cohort Studies; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003743:Dental Enamel / Q000473:pathology; D004522:Educational Status; D005260:Female; D005380:Financing, Government / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006801:Humans; D007180:Incisor / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D008437:Maxilla; D010290:Parents / Q000193:education; D015995:Prevalence; D012423:Rural Health / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D012737:Sex Factors; D012923:Social Class; D014077:Tooth Erosion / Q000453:epidemiology*; D014504:Urban Health / Q000706:statistics & numerical data