Title:Prevalence of Tooth Wear in Primary Dentition in School Children of Abu Dhabi, UAE
VOLUME: 3 ISSUE: 1
Author(s):Manal Al Halabi, Shaima Al Kayoumi, Amar H. Khamis and Sami Chogle
Affiliation:Hamdan Bin Mohammed College of Dental Medicine, Mohammed Bin Rashid University of Medicine and Health Sciences, Dubai, UAE.
Keywords:Abu Dhabi, attrition, erosion, prevalence, risk factors, tooth wear.
Abstract:Background: Tooth wear or tooth surface loss is a common finding that has been recently
increasingly associated with the pediatric population. Many factors can contribute to this condition.
Aim of the Study: To determine the prevalence of tooth wear and identify possible risk factors in the primary dentition of
Abu Dhabi, UAE, school children.
Methods: This cross-sectional study examined 506 children aged 2.6-6.8 years. Dental tooth wear was coded as none,
mild, moderate or severe. A questionnaire was completed by the children’s legal guardians to investigate the presence of
associated risk factors.
Results: Out of the 506 examined subjects, 97.6% showed tooth wear. Among the 9213 teeth examined 41.6%, 42.1%,
16.2%, 0.15% showed no tooth wear, mild, moderate and severe tooth wear respectively. Upper incisor and canine segments
demonstrated the highest prevalence and severity of tooth wear whereas lower and upper molar segments had the
lowest. Within the upper arch, upper canines showed the highest prevalence and severity of tooth wear whereas upper
second molars exhibited the lowest. Within the lower dentition, lower incisors had the highest prevalence and lower canines
had the highest severity of tooth wear. The lowest prevalence and severity of tooth wear within the lower arch was
associated with the lower second molars. Variables such as age, mother’s employment, mouth breathing, anterior deep
bite, canine classification, type of toothbrush and gender were significantly related to the prevalence and severity of tooth
wear, moreover, 52% of tooth wear was explained by the above mentioned variables adjusted over type of tooth brush.
Conclusion: The study demonstrated a prevalence of 97.6% of tooth wear in primary teeth. The study also demonstrated a
difference in the prevalence and severity of tooth wear within the primary teeth and within the upper and lower dentition.
The study suggests possible risk factors related to tooth wear such as: age, mother’s employment, mouth breathing, and
anterior deep bite.
