Prevalence of tooth wear in adults.
OBJECTIVE
The aim of this study was to investigate data on the prevalence of tooth wear in adults and assess possible correlations using a systematic review.


METHODS
A search of the literature, using PubMed and the Cochrane Library, from January 1980 to July 2007 was made using keywords "tooth + wear"; "dental + attrition + prevalence"; "dental + wear + prevalence"; "erosion + prevalence"; and "abrasion + prevalence". References were independently screened for inclusion and exclusion by two investigators and Cohen Kappa was used as the measure of agreement. Data were collected and converted into the Smith and Knight Tooth Wear Index.


RESULTS
One hundred eighty-six references were initially selected and subjected to the systematic review procedure; 13 survived the inclusion procedure. Four articles were suitable for regression analysis at tooth level (R2 = .593) and 3 at subject level (R2 = .736), using "age and age squared" and "age squared" as variables, respectively. Six studies reported males having significantly more tooth wear than females.


CONCLUSIONS
The predicted percentage of adults presenting with severe tooth wear increases from 3% at the age of 20 years to 17% at the age of 70 years. Increasing levels of tooth wear are significantly associated with age.
Van't Spijker
Arie
A
Department of Oral Function and Prosthetic Dentistry, College of Dental Science, Radboud University Nijmegen Medical Centre, Nijmegen, The Netherlands.
Rodriguez
Jose M
JM
Kreulen
Cees M
CM
Bronkhorst
Ewald M
EM
Bartlett
David W
DW
Creugers
Nico H J
NH
D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D015995:Prevalence; D012044:Regression Analysis; D014072:Tooth Abrasion / Q000453:epidemiology*; D019217:Tooth Attrition / Q000453:epidemiology*; D014077:Tooth Erosion / Q000453:epidemiology*; D055815:Young Adult