Tooth wear: prevalence and associated factors in private practices' patients

Objective: To estimate the prevalence of tooth wear and to investigate factors associated with tooth wear in patients from private practices in the United States.

Methods: Data on the diagnosis and treatment of oral diseases during the previous year were collected in a survey with a systematic random sample of adult patients (n=1140, 18-93 years old, 57% female; 86% non-Hispanic white race/ethnicity) visiting Northwest PRECEDENT general dentists (n=73). Associations between tooth wear (4+ teeth with moderate to severe wear facets) and patient characteristics were estimated using GEE multiple logistic regression.

Results: The mean number of teeth with moderate to severe wear facets was 5.5 [95% Confidence interval (CI)= 4.6; 6.4]. Fifty-one percent of the participants had 4 or more teeth with moderate to severe wear facets. The adjusted odds of having 4+ teeth with moderate to severe wear facets for participants 45-64 and 65+ years old were 1.5 (95%CI= 1.1; 2.1) and 1.6 (95%CI= 1.0; 2.7) times as high as compared to participants 18-44 years old, respectively. Males had a 1.4 (95%CI=1.1; 1.8) higher odds of tooth wear compared to females. The adjusted odds ratio of tooth wear for participants with 5-15 and 16+ missing teeth were 1.3 (95%CI=1.0; 1.6) and 0.3 (95%CI=0.1; 0.6), compared to participants with less than 5 missing teeth. Participants with periodontal disease had a 1.5 (95%CI=1.1; 2.1) higher odds of tooth wear than participants without periodontal disease. No associations were observed between tooth wear and Angle malocclusion, posterior or anterior open bites, previous orthodontic treatment, and race/ethnicity.

Conclusion: Tooth wear is a prevalent condition in this adult population. Older age, male gender, periodontal disease and missing teeth were associated with tooth wear, while malocclusion and other factors were not. Submitted on behalf of the Northwest PRECEDENT network, with support from: NIDCR grants DE016750 and DE016752.