Dental erosion in a group of British 14-year-old, school children. Part I:Prevalence and influence of differing socioeconomic backgrounds.

Objectives To establish the prevalence of erosion in a cluster random sampl e of 14-year-olds in Birmingham UK. To determine whether socioeconomic grou p influences the prevalence of erosion. Methods The study group consisted of a cluster random sample of 14-year-old school children in Birmingham UK: 418 children were examined from 12 diffe rent schools; 209 were male and 209 female. The level of tooth wear was rec orded using a modification of the (TWI) index of Smith and Knight (1984). T he ACORN classification was used to assess the socioeconomic status of all children. Results Results showed that 48% of the children had low erosion, 51% had mo derate erosion and only 1% had severe erosion. There were statistically sig nificant differences between males and females; more males had buccal/ labi al and lingual / palatal tooth surface erosion than females (Chi-square ana lysis P < 0.001). There was also significantly more erosion observed in tee nagers in the lowest socioeconomic categories. Conclusion It was concluded that moderate levels of dental erosion are comm on in 14-year-old school children and this may lead to increasing clinical problems. There was significantly more erosion in children from low socioec onomic groups. Possible aetiological factors need to be investigated furthe r.