Prevalence and Risk Factors of Dental Erosion in Children

Objectives: The purpose of this study was to assess the prevalence and characteristics of dental erosion in children aged 2-4 years old and 12 years old.

Methods: 243 subjects were recruited from daycare centers, preschools, and grade schools; they received dental examinations assessing their condition of dental erosion, including both depth and area of tooth surface loss on four maxillary incisors. Questionnaires were given to the subjects to obtain socio-demographic, oral health behaviors at home, and access to dental care. Dental erosion was analyzed and risk factors were assessed using Chi-Square and logistic regression analysis.

Results: The subjects were 60% White, 31% Black, 7% Hispanic and others were 2%. 34% of children could not get the dental care they needed within the past 12 months and 61% of all children brushed their teeth twice or more daily. Overall, 12% of study children had dental erosion and the majority of erosive lesions were within enamel. Family income (OR 3.98, p=0.021) and acidic fruit juice consumption (OR 2.38, p=0.038) were significant risk factors for dental erosion, even after controlling for other factors, such as source of drinking water and oral hygiene using logistic regression analysis.

Conclusions: Dental erosion is a relatively common problem among the children in this study; it is seen as a multi-factorial process. More studies are needed to better understand dental erosion among children.