Tooth wear Among adults attending dental clinics in Dar es salaam, Tanzania

Abstract

BACKGROUND Tooth wear is the non-carious gradual loss of tooth surface, classified as attrition, abrasion, erosion. Risk habits related to tooth wear include clenching, tooth grinding, unilateral chewing, chewing bones, frequent use of citrus fruits/juice, frequent vomiting and repeated heartburn. OBJECTIVE To assess tooth wear in adults dental patients in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania by analyzing their habits as related to tooth wear and determining their awareness on tooth wear, its prevalence, types of tooth wear, teeth affected, and extent of tooth wear. MATERIALS AND METHODS This descriptive cross-sectional study involved 316 participants selected from patients attending five dental clinics between August to November 2009, in Dar es Salaam. A questionnaire was administered to assess awareness and habits related to tooth wear, and tooth wear measured clinically. The data were analyzed using SPSS version 13 and statistical level of significance was p < 0.05. RESULTS Overall 39.1 % of subjects were aware on tooth wear. Awareness on causes and outcome was 39.5% and 26.4% respectively. Risk habits to tooth wear most frequently reported include unilateral chewing, chewing bones, and use of citrus fruits respectively. More females reported risk habits than males. Thirty percent of respondents using horizontal movement to brush their teeth and few (7.6%) reported using excessive force during brushing. The prevalence of tooth wear was 41.8%. Patients in age group 18-40 years had lower prevalence of tooth wear in both males and females compared to those who were aged 41 + years. Attrition was most prevalent type of tooth wear of which molars were most affected followed by incisors, canine and premolars respectively. Incisal/occlusal was most involved site in all

2. VI types of teeth. Enamel had higher scores in all levels of tooth wear than dentine while 6.2% of teeth had dentine exposure. CONCLUSION Prevalence of tooth wear was 41.8% of which attrition was observed to rank high. Tooth surface most affected was incisal/occlusal with molars having more wear than other tooth types. Enamel was frequently involved than dentine. Awareness on tooth wear among participants was low. Risk habits frequently reported were chewing bones, unilateral chewing, and use of citrus fruits/juice respectively. RECOMMENDATIONS 3. There is a need to raise public awareness on causes and risk habits related to tooth wear. 4. There is a need to develop a universally acceptable tooth wear index that will be able to determine prevention and treatment need 5. There is a need of more studies on tooth wear using much bigger sample sizes to be conducted to in Tanzania 4. An item of tooth wear to be included in Oral Health Survey in Tanzania.