Severity, distribution, and correlates of occlusal tooth wear in a sample of Mexican-American and European-American adults.

Abstract

PURPOSE:

The objective of this study was to determine the severity, distribution, and correlates of tooth wear in a sample of Mexican-American and European-American adults drawn from a community-based longitudinal aging study on oral health.

MATERIALS AND METHODS:

The maxillary teeth of 71 subjects enrolled in a longitudinal aging study were assessed using a previously introduced five-point (0 to 4) ordinal scoring system in which each tooth is given a score describing the severity of wear. The tooth wear scores were compared with data concerning demographic factors, functional/parafunctional habits, soft drink consumption, and bite force measurements to determine specific correlates of tooth wear.

RESULTS:

The mean wear score for all teeth was 1.50 on the five-point scale. There was a significant difference between the mean wear score of anterior teeth (1.85) and posterior teeth (1.17). Bivariate analyses detected a moderate degree of correlation between maxillary tooth wear and age and bite force. Maxillary tooth wear was significantly greater in males and in subjects with reported teeth clenching/grinding. Multivariate analyses revealed that age, gender, bite force, self-reported teeth clenching/grinding, and number of daily meals/snacks had significant correlations with maxillary tooth wear.

CONCLUSION:

The overall severity of maxillary tooth wear in this sample of Mexican-American and European-American adults was low, with anterior teeth having a greater degree of wear than posterior teeth. Age, gender, bite force, teeth clenching/grinding, and number of daily meals/snacks are potential factors that may have contributed to tooth wear in the study sample.

• Authors: M A Pigno, J P Hatch, R C Rodrigues-Garcia, S Sakai, J D Rugh
• Journal: The International journal of prosthodontics (Int J Prosthodont) 2001 Jan-Feb Vol. 14 Issue 1 Pg. 65-70 ISSN: 0893-2174 [Print] United States
• PMID: 11842908 (Publication Type: Comparative Study, Journal Article, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't, Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.)

Topics

• Adult
• Age Factors
• Aged
• Aged, 80 and over
• Analysis of Variance
• Bite Force
• Bruxism (classification, ethnology)
• Carbonated Beverages
• Europe (ethnology)
• Feeding Behavior (ethnology)
• Female
• Humans
• Linear Models
• Longitudinal Studies
• Male
• Maxilla
• Mexican Americans
• Middle Aged
• Multivariate Analysis
• Reproducibility of Results
• Sex Factors
• Statistics as Topic
• Statistics, Nonparametric
• Tooth Abrasion (classification, ethnology)
• Tooth Attrition (classification, ethnology)
• United States
• White People