Erosive tooth wear and associated factors in Northern Finland Birth Cohort 1966

• Main Author: Alaraudanjoki, V. (Viivi)
• Other Authors: Anttonen, V. (Vuokko), Laitala, M. (Marja-Liisa)
• Format: Doctoral or Postdoctoral Thesis
• Language: English
• Published: Oulun yliopisto 2018
• Subjects: 3D models; adults; dental caries; dental erosion; epidemiology; gene research; sociodemographic factors; tooth wear; validation; 3D-mallit; aikuiset; epidemiologia; geenitutkimus; hampaiden eroosio; hampaiden kuluminen; karies; sosiodemografiset tekijät; validointi; Northern Finland
• Online Access: http://urn.fi/urn:isbn:9789526217802

Abstract The aim of this study was to investigate the status of erosive tooth wear (ETW) in Finnish middle-aged adults and its association with dental caries and sociodemographic and intrinsic factors. In addition, we performed a genome-wide association study (GWAS) to identify whether genetic polymorphism (single nucleotide polymorphism) could explain some of the individual variance in the ETW status. Another aim of the study was to validate the use of the erosion index, the Basic Erosive Wear Examination (BEWE), on 3D models. Of the total Northern Finland Birth Cohort (NFBC1966), a convenience sample of 3,181 people was invited for an oral health examination in 2012–2013, of whom 1,962 participated, thus comprising the study group for the present study. ETW was assessed by sextants using the BEWE index. The clinical data was supplemented by information collected by means of postal questionnaires in 1997–1998 and 2012–2013, blood samples, and 3D models of the dentition. Of those clinically examined, 586 participants were randomly selected for the validation study of the BEWE index on 3D models. ETW was a common finding among the Finnish adult population, and almost half of the population needed at least preventive measures against the condition, and almost one in ten had severe ETW. Male gender and restorative treatment need due to dental caries were associated with ETW, unlike sociodemographic factors. Of the intrinsic factors, daily reflux symptoms and hyposalivation were the most significantly associated with severe ETW. According to the results from the GWAS, susceptibility to ETW could be partly explained by genetic polymorphism. The BEWE index was found reliable for recording ETW clinically and on 3D models, and 3D models were especially sensitive in detecting initial ETW. In conclusion, ETW seems to be common among Finnish adults, especially among males. In addition to risk factors, individual susceptibility should be kept in mind when assessing the risk for the condition. Early diagnosis of ETW is ...