title: Relationship between malocclusion, orthodontic treatment, and tooth wear.
abstract: 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.
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthodontics, School of Dentistry, Wales College of Medicine, Cardiff, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Caroline Wandia
authors.initials: CW
authors.lastname: Mwangi
authors.forename: Stephen
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Richmond
authors.forename: Margaret Lindsay
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: Hunter
mesh_terms: 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
chemical_list: D000143:Acids