Association between non-carious cervical lesions, dentin hypersensitivity and anxiety in young adults: A cross-sectional study

Abstract

Objectives

To investigate the prevalence and factors associated with dentin hypersensitivity (DH) and non-carious cervical lesions (NCCLs).

Methods

The analytical cross-sectional study included 157 participants aged between 18 and 45 years, who were clinically examined and answered a questionnaire related to their lifestyle and daily habits (diet, parafunctional habits, temporomandibular disorders, general and oral health) and the Beck Anxiety Inventory. A descriptive analysis of the prevalence of DH and NCCL was performed, both at the individual level and considering the distribution among the teeth. Poisson regression models were used to investigate factors associated with hypersensitivity.

Results

The prevalence of DH and NCCL was 84.7 % and 49.7 %, respectively. The use of whitening toothpaste and brushing teeth immediately after meals were related to the presence of at least one tooth with DH, while the NCCL and anxiety factors were related to the presence of DH in both at least one tooth and more than four teeth per individual. On the other hand, individuals who used soft and extra soft toothbrushes, as well as those who had knowledge about oral health, had a lower prevalence of DH.

Conclusions

DH and NCCL have a high prevalence in the population and are associated with each other and with the individual's lifestyle and habits.

Clinical significance

Individuals with signs of anxiety had a higher prevalence of DH, while individuals with knowledge about the etiological factors had a lower prevalence of the disease.