DENTAL EROSION,PREVA LENCE AND RISK FACTORS IN SWEDISH ADOLESCENTS

Abstract

Aims: To investigate the prevalence and risk factors of dental erosion among adolescents in Stockholm County.

Methods: This cross sectional cohort study was conducted during 2010-2011, at three clinics of the Public Dental Service in Stockholm County. Fifteen and 17 year old adolescents (1335) who had scheduled their regular dental health examination were asked to participate. From these a representative sample of 1071 individuals, 547 males and 524 females were enrolled in the study. Presence of erosive wear was diagnosed (yes/no) on marker teeth by trained dentists/dental hygienists and photographs were taken. The adolescents answered a questionnaire regarding oral symptoms, dietary and behavioural factors. Two calibrated special dentists using the Simplified Erosion Partial Recording System (SEPRS) performed evaluation of the photographs for severity of dental erosion. The Regional Ethical Review Board in Stockholm approved the study and informed consent was obtained from all participants. Data analyses were carried out using Statistical Package for the Social Science (Version 22), an independent t-test and Chi-Square test.

Results: In the population studied dental erosion was clinically diagnosed in 147 (28.3%) of 15 year olds and 189 (34.3%) of 17 year olds. Severe erosive wear was found in 220 (18.4%) adolescents based upon the intraoral photographs. Dental erosion was more prevalent and severe among males than females. The presence of erosive lesions correlated significantly with soft drink consumption (p<0.001), the use of juice or sport drinks as thirst quencher after exercise (p=0.006) and tooth hypersensitivity when eating and drinking (p=0.012). Furthermore, self-assessed gastric reflux was a factor strongly associated with dental erosion (p<0.001).

Conclusions: The results from this study indicate that erosive wear is common among adolescents in Stockholm County and is associated with both internal and external risk factors. Registration of dental erosion should be a part of the regular dental health examination.