The prevalence, aetiology and clinical appearance of tooth wear: The Nigerian experience

Objective: To establish the prevalence and severity of tooth wear among Nigerians and to compare the pattern and aetiology with findings of earlier studies in Western populations. Design: Clinical examinations for tooth wear using the tooth wear index (TWI). Setting: The Federal Republic of Nigeria. Participants: Patients attending the Dental Hospital, Obafemi Awolowo University Teaching Hospital's Complex Ile-Ife. Outcome measures: Attrition, abrasion and erosion. Results: Of the 126 patients with tooth wear 81 had attrition, 20 had abrasion, 9 had erosion and 16 had attrition and abrasion combined. A total of 15,480 tooth surfaces were examined. 2,229 (14.4%) surfaces had tooth wear out of which 1,007 (6.5%) were pathologically worn down. The frequency of tooth wear increased with the age of patients. Most of the pathologically worn surfaces were just one point above maximum acceptable value. Conclusions: The aetiological factors associated with tooth wear are not different from those encountered in Western cultures but the pattern of wear differs. Pathological tooth wear presents as an age related phenomenon and is probably more severe in Nigerians.