Incidence of Noncarious Cervical Lesions and Their Relation to the Presence of Wear Facets

Abstract

Noncarious cervical lesions are characterized by loss of tooth structure in the cervical area, compromising its integrity and resulting in esthetic problems for the patient. The purpose of this study was to assess noncarious cervical lesions in young patients in an attempt to establish a possible relationship to the presence of wear facets. First-year dental students of Bauru Dental School were studied to verify the prevalence of noncarious cervical lesions and their relationship to the presence of wear facets. After 3 years, the students were examined again to verify the incidence of new lesions, trying to establish a correlation to the previous existence of wear facets. Of the 1,131 teeth analyzed, 129 had noncarious cervical lesions. Twenty-nine of the 40 students had at least one tooth with one lesion. After 3 years, the incidence of new lesions was 57. Mandibular first molars (22.3%), mandibular first premolars (13.2%), mandibular second premolars (13.2%), and maxillary first molars (12.4%) showed the highest prevalence of lesions. On final analysis, 86.8% of all teeth presenting lesions showed wear facets. The identification of new lesions associated with the presence of wear facets identified during the first exam 3 years earlier was statistically significant (p < 0.01). The patterns of wear facets found in the study population examined were associated with an increased occurrence of noncarious cervical lesions. Occlusal factors, especially the presence of wear facets, should be considered in the management of noncarious cervical lesions.