[The attrition of deciduous teeth]

The aim of the present investigation was to study tooth wear in extracted primary teeth. Altogether 992 deciduous teeth were examined under a stereomicroscope with a magnification of 25X. The amount of attrition (former name abrasion) was scored according to the Tooth Wear Index published by Smith and Knight (1984). On the basis of the present study the following conclusions can be drown: 1. Attrition was found in more than three-quarter of the examined teeth which shows that children with all certainty chew more than it is assumed. 2. Attrition could be assigned mainly in the class 1. and dentin was exposed in 12% of the cases. 3. Attrition of molar teeth is higher than that of the anterior teeth. 4. Attrition of the first molars is higher than that of the second molars.