Dental erosion: Prevalence and severity among 16-year-old adolescents in Troms, Norway

Authors:

ABSTRACT

Aim

To study the prevalence, distribution and severity of dental erosion among 16-year-old adolescents in the Troms region
of Norway.

Methods

Study design: The participants were recruited through the Troms-study ("Fit
Futures"), and 392 16-year-olds were examined for dental erosion using clinical intraoral photographs. Three calibrated clinicians used
the Visual Erosion Dental Examination (VEDE) system to register and grade the dental erosive wear.

Results

More than one third
(38) of the participants showed dental erosion on at least one tooth surface, 18 were limited to the enamel, while
20 of the adolescents showed erosive wear extending into the dentine. The occlusal surfaces of the lower first molars, and the
palatal surfaces of the maxillary incisors were the most often and most severely affected. Of the participants showing dental erosion,
93 exhibited "cuppings" on the molars, with 48 limited to the enamel and 52 extending into the dentine. The
highest prevalence of "cuppings" (73) was found on the first lower molars, especially the mesiobuccal cusp of the teeth. The
prevalence and severity of dental erosion was found to be higher in male than in female participants (p < 0.0001).

Conclusion

The
results from this study indicate a high prevalence and severity of dental erosion among adolescents in Troms and stress the importance
of information, early and effective diagnostics and implementation of prevention strategies.

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