Erosive Tooth Wear and Related Risk Factors in 8- and 14-Year-Old Greek Children

Prevalence of erosive tooth wear in risk group patients: systematic review

OBJECTIVE

This systematic review investigates the prevalence of erosive tooth wear (ETW) in individuals classified as risk groups (gastroesophageal reflux disease, eating disorders, special diets, acidic beverage, drugs and alcohol, legal drugs and medications, and occupational or sports).

MATERIALS AND METHODS

The research was conducted in nine databases (PubMed/MEDLINE, Embase, Cochrane Library, LILACS/BVS, SciELO, Scopus, Science Direct, Open Grey, and Web of Science) up to April 2024 (PROSPERO CRD42021270150), along with a manual search of grey literature. Observational studies involving children and adults from these previously mentioned risk groups, which provided data on ETW prevalence, were included without date or language restrictions. The methodological quality of studies was evaluated using the Joanna Briggs Institute's Prevalence Data Critical Appraisal Tool. General and subgroup data were meta-analyzed using a random-effects model.

RESULTS

Overall, 4403 studies were retrieved, out of which 148 met the inclusion criteria. Each risk group showed higher prevalences of ETW in these patients in general and subgroup analysis; although subgroup analysis was not possible for all risk groups due to the heterogeneity of the indices found.

CONCLUSIONS

The Legal drugs and Medications risk group showed lower overall prevalence values (30%), while the Drugs and Alcohol risk group obtained higher values (67%). Prevalence rates for other groups were: Gastroesophageal reflux disease (54.1%), Eating Disorders (65%), Special Diets (65.9%), Acidic Beverages (40%), Occupational and Sports (51%).

CLINICAL RELEVANCE

This systematic review highlights that risk groups are indeed at significant risk for the development of ETW and greater preventive care and dental monitoring are needed.

Anamnestic risk factors for erosive tooth wear: Systematic review, mapping, and meta-analysis

OBJECTIVES

Erosive tooth wear is a multifactorial condition. The aim of this systematic review and meta-analysis was to identify key risk factors for erosive tooth wear in permanent dentition.

STUDY SELECTION

Observational studies reporting anamnestic risk factors for erosive tooth wear. Methodological quality and risk of bias were assessed using the modified Newcastle-Ottawa scale for cross-sectional studies. Risk factors were visually presented in a heatmap, and where possible, random-effects meta-analyses were performed for the odds ratios (ORs) of risk factors.

SOURCES

Electronic databases (MEDLINE, Embase, Scopus, and Web of Science) and manual searches in February 2023. The protocol was registered in PROSPERO (CRD4202339776).

DATA

A total of 87 publications reporting on 71 studies were included in the systematic review. The studies examined a variety of anamnestic risk factors (n = 80) that were categorized into ten domains (socio-demographics, socio-economics, general health, oral diseases, medication, oral hygiene, food, beverages, dietary habits, and leisure-related risk factors). Meta-analyses revealed significant associations between erosive tooth wear and male gender (padj.<0.001; OR=1.30, 95 % CI: 1.16-1.44), regurgitation (padj.=0.033; OR=2.27, 95 % CI: 1.41-3.65), digestive disorders (padj.<0.001; OR=1.81, 95 % CI: 1.48-2.21), consumption of acidic foods (padj.=0.033; OR=2.40, 95 % CI: 1.44-4.00), seasoning sauces (padj.=0.003; OR=1.28, 95 % CI: 1.13-1.44), nutritional supplements (padj.=0.019; OR=1.73, 95 % CI: 1.28-2.35), and carbonated drinks (padj.=0.019; OR=1.43, 95 % CI: 1.17-1.75). Most included studies exhibited low bias risk.

CONCLUSIONS

Observational studies investigated a variety of anamnestic risk factors for erosive tooth wear. Future studies should employ validated questionnaires, particularly considering the most important risk factors.

CLINICAL SIGNIFICANCE

Erosive tooth wear is a prevalent condition. Clinicians should concentrate primarily on symptoms of gastroesophageal reflux disease and dietary factors when screening patients at risk for erosive tooth wear.

Risk factors of tooth wear in permanent dentition: A scoping review

BACKGROUND

Tooth wear (TW) prevalence is high and increasing and has important consequences on the patient's quality of life. Knowledge of risk factors is crucial to promote diagnosis, prevention strategies and timely interceptive treatment. Many studies have identified TW risk factors.

OBJECTIVE

This scoping review aims to map and describe suspected available factors associated with TW in permanent dentition based on quantitative measurement.

METHODS

The scoping review was conducted using the PRISMA extension of the Scoping Reviews checklist. The search was conducted in October 2022 from the Medline® (PubMed® interface) and Scopus® databases. Two independent reviewers selected and characterised the studies.

RESULTS

2702 articles were identified for assessment of titles and abstracts, and 273 articles were included in the review. The results show a need to standardise TW measurement indices and the study design. The included studies highlighted various factors, classified into nine domains: sociodemographic factors, medical history, drinking habits, eating habits, oral hygiene habits, dental factors, bruxism and temporomandibular disorders, behavioural factors, and stress. Results related to chemical TW (erosion) risk factors underline the importance of eating disorders, gastroesophageal reflux and lifestyle, particularly drinking and eating behaviours, which supports developing public health information campaigns and interventions. Besides chemical, this review identifies evidence of several mechanical TW risk factors, such as toothbrushing and bruxism; the influence of this last factor needs to be further explored.

CONCLUSIONS

TW management and prevention require a multidisciplinary approach. Dentists are in the first line to detect associated diseases such as reflux or eating disorders. Consequently, practitioners' information and guideline diffusion should be promoted, and a TW risk factors checklist (the ToWeR checklist) is proposed to help diagnostic approaches.

The association between erosive tooth wear and diet, hygiene habits and health awareness in adolescents aged 15 in Poland

Purpose

The aim of the study was to assess the prevalence of erosive tooth wear (ETW) and risk indicators in the population of adolescents aged 15 in Poland.

Methods

Erosive tooth wear in 2639 participants was determined by calibrated examiners according to the BEWE scoring system, and the prevalence of risk factors was assessed on the basis of a survey.

Results

Erosive tooth wear was reported in 24.3% of participants. Initial loss of surface (BEWE 1) was the predominant finding, observed in 21.3% of participants. Hard tissue loss (BEWE 2 and 3) occurred very rarely, only in 3% of participants. Acidic diet, masculine gender and lower socio-economic status were associated with higher prevalence and severity of erosive lesions in the examined population.

Conclusion

Two modifiable factors—acidic diet and low health awareness—were found to be highly unsatisfactory in the adolescents aged 15 in Poland. Accordingly, to prevent the deterioration of the functionality and aesthetics of the teeth in young people, certain measures, such as routine clinical examination, education, dietary consulting and prophylaxis, should be implemented as early as possible, focusing predominantly on families with lower socio-economic status.

Oral Health Related Behaviors in Relation to DMFT Indexes of Teenagers in an Urban Area of North-West Poland-Dental Caries Is Still a Common Problem

Caries has a negative influence on health and is still a public health problem among children and adolescents in Poland. The aim of this study was to analyze the association of dietary habits, oral hygiene behaviors and the frequency of usage of dental services with the dental caries index in teenagers in North-West Poland. The study enrolled 264 children (147M/117F) aged 15. Participants filled out a questionnaire regarding age, sex, frequency of visits to the dentist, dietary habits and oral hygiene behaviors, and the Decayed Missing Filled Teeth Index (DMFT) was calculated. Caries was found in 88.6% of subjects. The lower or no caries experience group (DMFT ≤ 5) comprised of 180 subjects, while higher caries experience (DMFT > 5) was found in 84 teenagers and was significantly inversely associated with tooth brushing after the last meal (OR = 0.45; 95% CI:0.21–0.97; p = 0.04) and the daily use of dental floss (OR = 0.12; 95% CI:0.01–0.92; p = 0.04). There is an emerging need for the implementation of effective caries prevention and recovery programs in Poland. Health promotion focusing on oral hygiene behaviors should be disseminated more widely because lower caries experience was demonstrated in teenagers declaring healthy oral habits. Another important need is the development of multi-sectorial actions aiming at the improvement of dietary habits.

A systematic review of dietary acids and habits on dental erosion in adolescents

BACKGROUND

Dental erosion is the dissolution of dental hard tissues caused by acids of a non-bacterial origin. Dietary acids are considered the predominant and most controllable factor.

AIM

To synthesise the literature on the effects of dietary acids and habits on dental erosion in the permanent dentition of 10- to 19-year-old adolescents.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

An electronic literature search was undertaken in Cochrane, MEDLINE, CINAHL, Dentistry & Oral Sciences Source via EBSCOhost, and Embase with no restriction on the date of publication.

RESULTS

The initial search identified 449 articles, and 338 remained after removal of duplicates. Seventy-seven articles remained after screening of titles and abstracts, and 52 were eligible for the full-text review. A considerable variety of beverages, food, and dietary habits were reported as risk factors for dental erosion. The most consistent findings implicated the erosive potential of carbonated beverages and the consumption of acidic drinks at bedtime.

CONCLUSIONS

Although results were not consistent between cohort and cross-sectional studies, this review suggests certain dietary risk factors may contribute to dental erosion in adolescents. There is a need for more high-quality cohort studies to establish more conclusive evidence on the role of dietary acids and habits on dental erosion.

Erosive tooth Wear in special Olympic athletes with intellectual disabilities

Background

Special Olympics (SO) events represent an opportunity to obtain considerable information regarding intellectual disable (ID) patients. Studies done with SO data have shown an overview of the oral health status of these athletes; however, no information exists regarding the erosive tooth wear (ETW). Therefore, the aim of this study is to determine the presence and severity of ETW in athletes with ID who participated in the SO Belgium 2016.

Methods

The study population consisted in 232 athletes with ID who participated in the SO special smiles program, Belgium 2016. For analysis, the sample was divided in three groups: a) athletes with ID under the age of 25 not diagnosed with Down Syndrome (DS) (n = 174), b) athletes with DS under the age of 25 (n = 39) and c) athletes with DS from 25 and older ages (n = 58). Two calibrated dentists performed dental examinations using the Basic Erosive Wear Examination Index (BEWE). The BEWE sum > 0 was used to determine prevalence of ETW. Severity was determined by two- indicators: 1) By risk levels (low, medium and high risk) proposed by the BEWE index, and 2) by the highest score reached per subject in at least one tooth (BEWE1, 2 or 3). Chi-square test and Mann-Whitney U test were used to detect significant differences among different groups (p < 0.05).

Results

The prevalence of ETW for young athletes with ID was 51.14%. Within these athletes, the DS group presented a significant higher mean BEWE sum (4.67, SD 5.64) and prevalence of ETW (69.2%BEWE> 0) when compared to athletes without DS (mean BEWE sum: 1.96, SD 3.47 and 46.3% BEWE> 0; p < 0.05). Furthermore, a significantly higher percentage of athletes with DS were considered at high risk of ETW (p < 0.05).

Conclusions

As a conclusion, half of the young athletes with ID presented at least one affected surface with ETW. The recorded prevalence and severity of ETW for the younger group of athletes with DS was distinctly higher than the athletes with ID not having DS. This shows the need to generate knowledge in order to provide correct management and prevention of erosive tooth wear in populations with ID.

Monitoring the progression of erosive tooth wear (ETW) using BEWE index in casts and their 3D images: A retrospective longitudinal study

OBJECTIVE

To determine if the Basic erosive tooth wear index (BEWE index) is able to assess and monitor ETW changes in two consecutive cast models, and detect methodological differences when using the corresponding 3D image replicas.

METHODS

A total of 480 pre-treatment and 2-year post-treatment orthodontic models (n = 240 cast models and n = 240 3D image replicas) from 120 adolescents treated between 2002 and 2013 at the Gent Dental Clinic, Belgium, were scored using the BEWE index. For data analysis only posterior sextants were considered, and inter-method differences were evaluated using Wilcoxon Signed Rank test, Kappa values and Mc Nemar tests (p < 0.05). Correlations between methods were determined using Kendall tau correlation test.

RESULTS

Significant changes of ETW were detected between two consecutive models when BEWE index was used to score cast models or their 3D image replicas (p < 0.001). A strong significant correlation (τb: 0.74; p < 0.001) was shown between both methods However, 3D image-BEWE index combination showed a higher probability for detecting initial surface changes, and scored significantly higher than casts (p < 0.001). Incidence and progression of ETW using 3D images was 13.3% (n = 16) and 60.9% (n = 56) respectively, with two subjects developing BEWE = 3 in at least one tooth surface.

CONCLUSIONS

BEWE index is a suitable tool for the scoring of ETW lesions in 3D images and cast. The combination of both digital 3D records and index, can be used for the monitoring of ETW in a longitudinal approach. The higher sensibility of BEWE index when scoring 3D images might improve the early diagnosis of ETW lesions.

CLINICAL SIGNIFICANCE

The BEWE index combined with digital 3D records of oral conditions might improve the practitioner performance with respect to early diagnosis, monitoring and managing ETW.

The Influence of Behavioural and Sociodemographic Risk Indicators on Erosive Tooth Wear in Flemish Adolescents, Belgium

Although Belgium has recently been ranked as the second highest consumer of soft drinks in Europe, no data on erosive tooth wear (ETW) are currently available. Therefore, the aim of this cross-sectional study was to determine the prevalence and associated risk indicators of ETW in adolescents residing in the region of Flanders, Belgium. Convenience sampling was used to recruit participants from different types of Belgian schools: general and vocational/technical education. Three calibrated dentists performed the dental examinations and a self-reported questionnaire was applied to evaluate risk indicators related with ETW. ETW was classified using the Basic Erosive Wear Examination (BEWE) index, and the overall prevalence was calculated using BEWE sum >0. The Kruskal-Wallis test, the Mann-Whitney U test, and logistic regression analysis were performed to evaluate frequencies and risk associations. From a total of 613 recruited adolescents (mean age: 15.1 years, SD: 0.8), 48.6% presented at least one affected tooth surface by ETW (BEWE sum >0), 14.4% (n = 88) scored BEWE sum >2, and the highest score obtained was BEWE sum = 8. Two predictive variables were found to have an association with ETW: vocational/technical type of education (OR: 1.49; 95% CI: 1.03-2.13) and frequent consumption of soft drinks (OR: 2.08; 95% CI: 1.38-3.14). In conclusion, ETW is a common condition presented with low severity among Flemish adolescents. Additionally, the frequent consumption of soft drinks and being part of a vocational/technical education appear to be risk indicators for ETW in this population. The latter indicates the need for specific orientated oral health promotion programmes for the prevention of ETW in Flemish adolescents.