Relationship between malocclusion, orthodontic treatment, and tooth wear.
BACKGROUND
Although the association between orthodontic treatment and dental health has been studied previously, no studies have hitherto investigated whether the need for, or the receipt of, orthodontic treatment leads to differences in tooth wear in the long term.


METHODS
In this retrospective, cross-sectional, association study, an index specifically designed for dental study casts was used to examine tooth wear in 307 adults aged 30 to 31 years.


RESULTS
The men showed significantly higher levels of tooth wear than did the women. No significant differences in tooth wear in relation to need for or receipt of orthodontic treatment were recorded. Likewise, there appeared to be no significant association between tooth wear and reported intake of acidic drinks and foods.


CONCLUSIONS
Neither the need for nor the provision of orthodontic treatment contributes to increased tooth wear.
Mwangi
Caroline Wandia
CW
Department of Orthodontics, School of Dentistry, Wales College of Medicine, Cardiff, United Kingdom.
Richmond
Stephen
S
Hunter
Margaret Lindsay
ML
D000143:Acids; D000328:Adult; D001628:Beverages; D001641:Bicuspid / Q000473:pathology; D015331:Cohort Studies; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003481:Cuspid / Q000473:pathology; D005247:Feeding Behavior; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D005502:Food; D006801:Humans; D007180:Incisor / Q000473:pathology; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D008310:Malocclusion / Q000628:therapy*; D008963:Molar / Q000473:pathology; D020380:Needs Assessment; D009971:Orthodontics, Corrective / Q000379:methods*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012737:Sex Factors; D014072:Tooth Abrasion / Q000209:etiology*; D019217:Tooth Attrition / Q000209:etiology; D014077:Tooth Erosion / Q000209:etiology*; D014852:Wales
D000143:Acids