title: Tooth wear among tobacco chewers in the rural population of Davangere, India.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  In India, people chew tobacco either alone or in combination with pan or pan masala, which may cause tooth wear. The purpose of this study was to assess and compare tooth wear among chewers of various forms/combinations of tobacco products in the rural population of Davangere Taluk.
  
  
  METHODS
  A cross-sectional study was conducted on 208 subjects selected from four villages of Davangere Taluk. Tooth wear was recorded using the Tooth Wear Index by a calibrated examiner with a kappa score of 0.89. The chi-square test was used for statistical analysis.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The subjects chewing tobacco had significantly greater tooth wear as compared to the controls (P < 0.001). It was also observed that the frequency and duration of chewing tobacco was directly proportional to the number of pathologically worn sites.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The abrasives present in the tobacco might be responsible for the increased tooth wear among tobacco chewers.
authors: Department of Public Health Dentistry, Pacific Dental College and Hospital, Udaipur, Pajashan, India. rameshpcd@yahoo.co.in
authors: Ramesh
authors: R
authors: Nagarajappa
authors: Gayathri
authors: G
authors: Ramesh
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003743:Dental Enamel / Q000473:pathology; D003789:Dental Pulp Exposure / Q000145:classification / Q000209:etiology; D003804:Dentin / Q000473:pathology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007194:India; D008297:Male; D031721:Piper betle; D012423:Rural Health; D012737:Sex Factors; D013997:Time Factors; D062789:Tobacco Products; D014030:Tobacco, Smokeless; D057085:Tooth Wear / Q000145:classification / Q000209:etiology*