The Prevalence of Tooth Wear in an Adult Population from the Eastern Province of Saudi Arabia

AIM: To assess the prevalence of tooth wear in the Eastern Province of Saudi Arabia in an adult population and to identify potential contributing factors, such as sociodemographic factors. METHODS: This cross-sectional study included adults between 18 and 40 years, seeking routine dental care. A clinical examination using the tooth wear index (TWI) was performed. Each tooth was given a TWI score, followed by classifying participants according to different risk levels. This was followed by a self-administered questionnaire on demographic information and oral hygiene habits. Statistical analyses included univariate, bivariate, as well as multivariate to assess the risk of tooth wear in relation to possible risk factors. The tests used were odds ratios (ORs) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs) and p-values < 0.05 to be statistically significant. RESULTS: The prevalence of tooth wear and dentin exposure was 83.5% and 58.8%, respectively, with the mean affected teeth of 1.3 ± 0.6 and 0.2 ± 0.2. Both gender and education level were significantly associated with tooth wear at bivariate and multivariate levels (p < 0.05). CONCLUSION: The prevalence of tooth wear among sampled adults in this study was high. There was a clear difference in rates of tooth wear for gender and education level. Early identification and prevention of tooth wear will help reduce signs and symptoms in later stages of life.