Pilot study of dental erosion and associated factors in university student volunteers

Abstract

To investigate dental erosion and associated etiologic factors among students from one university. A total of 179 student volunteers from one university were examined clinically for their dental erosion. Each was required to complete a questionnaire regarding potentially associated etiologic factors. A modified criteria was used to grade the severity of dental erosion. The prevalence of dental erosion of this group was 45.8%, mostly in enamel. Facial surfaces of anterior teeth were most vulnerable to erosion. Statistic analysis indicated that acidic diets, such as carbonated drink, fruit juice, fruit drink and banana were risk factors to dental erosion. The findings strongly suggest that much attention should be given to dental erosion which was probably associated with acidic diet.