Common dental conditions associated with dental erosion in school children in Australia

Abstract

Purpose: The purpose of the investigation was to determine factors associated with dental erosion in a group of schoolchildren in Queensland, Australia. Methods: Dental examinations were carried out on 774 children aged 5.5 to 14.6 years from 8 randomly selected Australian schools. A total of 3,165 primary and 2,976 permanent teeth were scored for dental erosion using a modified erosion index. Dental caries experience was determined from, clinical examination and bite-wing radiographs. Enamel defects were recorded using the developmental defects of enamel index. Results: There were 225 children (32%) who exhibited no erosion and 489 (68%) who had erosion of at least one tooth. Erosion was found in 78% of subjects with primary teeth and 25% of subjects with permanent teeth (