International Journal of Medical and Health Research

Authors
Said Karabekiroğlu, Sevgi Şener, Güldane Mağat, Işın Akdemir, Nimet Ünlü

Abstract
The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of tooth wear (TW) in a sample of subjects attending two university dental clinic in Turkey and to investigate the relationship to age, gender, socioeconomic status, oral care, medical history, parafunction and dietary habits. The group of study had 1094 patients (647 female and 447 male), structured on the following subgroups of age: 18- 30 years, 30-50, and 50-74. Each patient had a clinical exam and a questionnaire for age, gender, oral care, medical history, diet, parafunctional habits and socioeconomic data, spotlighting the etiology of tooth wear. We recorded the prevalence and severity of tooth wear. TW was measured clinically by Smith and Knight Index. Data were analyzed using Spearman Correlation and Chi Square tests. 1094 subjects (mean age 33.1 years) were examined of whom 64.9% had some degree of TW with the majority, 33.2% exhibiting mild, 21.5% with moderate and 10% with severe TW. TW is frequent at two gender (p=0.225). There were associations found between TW and age (p<0.001), acidic beverages (p=0.001), gastric reflux (p=0.001), bruxism (p=0.000), medical problem (p=0.001) and medicament usage (p=0.001). TW in this Middle of Anatolian population group appears to be common. Data supports an association between TW and age, parafunction, dietary, medical history and medicament usage. Tooth wear is significantly associated with age, gender, dietary habits, medical history, bruxism.