Frequency Of Dental Erosion Among Undergraduate Dental Students Of Pakistan

Abstract

Background: Dental erosion is a form of tooth wear which occurs as a result of dissolution of dental hard tissues caused by acids of non-bacterial origin. Erosion can occur due to intrinsic acids (within the body) or extrinsic acids (dietary intake). Erosive lesion due dietary or gastric acids forms smooth lesions which typically appear as cupped occlusal/ incisal and concave buccal/facial surfaces Objective: The objective of this study was to evaluate the prevalence of dental erosion among undergraduate dental students in various dental colleges of Pakistan. Material and Method: This study was conducted at Institute of Dentistry, Combined Military Hospital Lahore Medical College, Fatima Memorial Hospital College of Dentistry, Lahore and Sardar Begum Dental College, Peshawar. Sample size calculated was 330 and data was collected over a period of two years. Signs for erosive lesion were observed during clinical examination. Lesions graded according to Basic erosive wear examination (B.E.W.E.) index and reported. Results: A sample of 330 dental students is taken with the mean age 21.62 ± 1.17 years. There were 107 (32.4%) male and 223 (67.6%) female students in the sample. Prevalence of the erosion in the dental students was 14.8% (49/330). Conclusion: 107 (32.4%) male and 223 (67.6%) female undergraduate dental students were examined for dental erosion .The frequency of dental erosion among dental students was reported to be 14.8%.