Abstract
BACKGROUND: The objective of this study was to investigate the prevalence of dental wear (DW) and evaluate potential contributing factors in the Hail province of Saudi Arabia. METHODS: A total of 386 individuals were involved in this cross-sectional study, which combined clinical assessments and questionnaire-based investigations. The clinical assessment using the Tooth Wear Index (TWI) was conducted. Each tooth was assigned a TWI score, and subsequently, individuals were classified into groups according to their level of risk. In addition to completing a demographic questionnaire, participants were also asked to respond to inquiries about their social, dietary, and dental health practices. The Chi-square test was used to investigate the association between the variables. The logistic regression analysis was also conducted to identify factors associated with tooth wear and its related clinical variables. RESULTS: A comprehensive examination was conducted on all 386 patients, revealing that 219 individuals (56.73%) exhibited observable indications of DW. The study sample exhibited a prevalence of dentin exposure accompanied by sensitivity at a rate of 97 cases, representing 25.6% of the total sample. In the current investigation, a total of 111 individuals, representing 28.8% of the sample, were identified as requiring dental care as a result of DW. There was a significant association between the severity of DW and variables such as age, sex, and educational level (p < 0.05). A significant correlation was observed between diet, oral health practices, and tooth wear (p < 0.05). The analysis highlights diet, systemic health, brushing timing, region/type of tooth wear, symptoms, and treatment needs as significant predictors of tooth wear. CONCLUSIONS: The prevalence of DW in a Saudi subpopulation is relatively high. It is imperative that dentists provide guidance to their patients on oral hygiene habits and dietary selections that may contribute to significant tooth wear, as tooth wear is currently acknowledged as a substantial concern in the realm of oral health.