Non-carious cervical lesions and risk factors: A case-control study

Area of Science:

• Dental Science
• Oral Health Research
• Epidemiology

Background:

• Non-carious cervical lesions (NCCLs) are prevalent dental conditions.
• Understanding the multifactorial etiology of NCCLs is crucial for effective prevention and treatment strategies.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the association between various risk factors and the presence of non-carious cervical lesions (NCCLs).
• To develop a predictive model for NCCLs and determine the odds ratio of contributing factors.

Main Methods:

• A case-control study involving 280 dentistry students (140 cases with NCCLs, 140 controls).
• Clinical examinations assessed occlusal status and periodontal health.
• Questionnaires collected data on brushing habits, bruxism, diet, and acid exposure.
• Univariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses were employed.

Main Results:

• Univariate analysis identified protrusion interferences, non-working side interferences, brushing force, CPITN score, and acidic salad consumption as risk factors for NCCLs.
• The best predictive model included CPITN >1, acidic salads, bruxism, brushing force, and attrition, but achieved only 68.75% classification accuracy.

Conclusions:

• The study confirms the multifactorial nature of NCCL development.
• Identified risk factors, while significant, are insufficient alone to fully explain NCCL occurrence.
• Dentists should consider a comprehensive assessment of these risk factors for patient management.