Dental erosion and associated risk factors among preschool children

Abstract

Dental erosion is the irreversible loss of dental hard tissue due to acid action. The aim of this study was to investigate the prevalence and severity of dental erosion in the primary dentition of preschool children, and to determine the relationship between dental erosion and dietary and oral hygiene habits as well as parental educational level. The subjects were 199 healthy children (aged 4-5 years) from two Zagreb kindergartens. Dental erosion of primary teeth was evaluated by a modified Smith and Knight Tooth Wear Index (1). Information on dietary and oral hygiene habits and parental educational level were obtained through a questionnaire. The results showed that 78% children had evidence of dental erosion. In 51.0% of children it was confined to the enamel, in 26.8% erosion extended into the dentine and in 1.0% it reached pulp. There was no significant difference between the sexes (p> 0.05). The questionnaire data indicated an association between dental erosion and consumption of sweet drinks, fruit, snacks and biscuits. There was no association with oral hygiene habits. With the higher educational level of the parents, the prevalence of erosion in children was lower. In conclusion, the prevalence of dental erosion in primary dentition is high, so the risk factors should be eliminated by proper diet and oral hygiene instructions, beginning from early childhood.