Longitudinal relationship between incisal tooth wear and periodontal condition.

The purpose of the study was to examine the relationship between the longitudinal development of incisal tooth wear and periodontal conditions in 51 persons. Stone casts obtained at the ages of 15 and 27 yr were used to assess incisal wear according to a graded scale, the Incisal wear Index (IwI). The wear increase after 12 yr, delta IwI, was related to the various health index scores at the age of 15 yr, including the Plaque Index (PlI) and Gingival Index (GI) systems. The chi-square tests showed a statistically significant association between delta IwI and periodontal condition in 15-yr-olds. Thus, relatively low PlI and GI values were accompanied by relatively high delta IwI values. It was concluded that in 15-yr-olds, PlI and GI levels are clinical predictors of future wear (delta IwI) of maxillary and mandibular central incisors. Pocket depth (PD) was a less valuable clinical predictor of such wear.