Dental erosion in schoolchildren and associated factors: A cross-sectional study.

CONTEXT

Throughout life, the teeth are exposed to different types of wear, including dental erosion, which is characterized by the loss of surface-mineralized tissue due to a chemical process without bacterial involvement and strongly influenced by eating habits.

AIM

The aim of this study to evaluate the prevalence of dental erosion in schoolchildren and associated factors.

SETTING AND DESIGN

This is a cross-sectional study.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

The study was conducted at a public and private school in the city of São Luís (MA), Brazil, involving a sample of 239 children aged 6-10 years. Data were collected through a questionnaire and clinical examination. Dental erosion was evaluated using the Basic Erosive Wear Examination.

STATISTICAL ANALYSIS

Data analysis involved descriptive statistics, Pearson's Chi-square test, the linear trend Chi-square test, and Fisher's exact test, with the level of significance set to 5%.

RESULTS

The male sex accounted for 50.2% of the sample and the female sex accounted for 49.8%; 62.8% attended the public school and 37.2% attended the private school. The prevalence of dental erosion was 11.7%, with the highest prevalence among 9-year-olds (46.4%). Dental erosion was significantly associated with age (P = 0.009) and type of school (P < 0.001).

CONCLUSION

The present findings underscore the need for strategies to prevent or arrest the erosive process through local actions involving schoolchildren, parents/caregivers, and teachers.