Tooth Wear and Salivary Factors: Insights from a Cohort of Dental Students

Background/Objectives: Tooth wear is a progressive and multifactorial condition influenced by mechanical and chemical factors. Saliva plays a crucial role in modulating erosive wear through its buffering capacity and remineralization potential. This study aimed to assess the prevalence and severity of erosive tooth wear among dental students and explore its correlation with salivary factors such as flow rate and pH. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted on 96 individuals from the Egas Moniz School of Health & Science. Erosive wear was evaluated using the Basic Erosive Wear Examination (BEWE) index. Unstimulated and stimulated saliva samples were collected to measure salivary flow rate and pH. Statistical analyses included Spearman's correlation and multinomial logistic regression. Results: All individuals were classified as no risk (BEWE Score 0-2) or low risk (BEWE Score 3-8). The most affected teeth were the lower first molars and the 4th and 6th sextants. Salivary analysis showed a mean unstimulated flow rate of 0.5 mL/min and stimulated flow of 1.7 mL/min. A significant negative correlation (rho = -0.224, p = 0.029) was found between stimulated salivary pH and BEWE score, indicating that higher acidity contributes to greater erosive wear. Conclusions: This study highlights the impact of salivary properties on erosive tooth wear, emphasizing the protective role of higher salivary pH. Regular monitoring of saliva and preventive strategies should be integrated into early diagnosis and management of erosive wear in young adults.