Dynamics of tooth erosion in adolescents: a 3-year longitudinal study

The aim of the present study was to estimate the prevalence, incidence and progression of tooth erosion on both mouth and tooth level over a 3-year period in a sample of adolescents. The study also aimed to investigate age, gender and socio-economic influences.

Tooth erosion was recorded three times with 1.5 years intervals in a sample of 622 children, aged 10-12 years at baseline.

Tooth erosion was present in 30.4% of the 11-year-olds, and 44.2% in 15-year-olds. Deep enamel or dentin was eroded in 1.8% of the 11-year-olds and in 23.8% of the 15-year-olds. Significantly more boys than girls showed tooth erosion as did children from a low socio-economic background compared with other children. The incidence of new tooth surfaces exhibiting erosion, in erosion-free children, decreased significantly with age, while the progression in children with erosion did not change. The incidence of tooth erosion in upper incisors and lower first molars decreased significantly with age. In upper incisors, a statistical significant relationship between SES and incidence was found, with lower incidences for higher SES. For first molars, only a relationship between gender and incidence was found, with a lower incidence for girls.

The incidence of new tooth surfaces exhibiting erosion, in erosion-free children, decreased significantly with age. In children with tooth erosion the condition progressed steadily. On tooth level the incidence decreased significantly with age for upper incisors and lower first molars. There was a difference in influence of background variables on the incidence of tooth erosion between molars and upper incisors.