Dental Erosion Risk Factors in 12 and 16-Year-Old Brazilian Schoolchildren

Objectives: The aim of the present study was to investigate possible associations between dental erosion and diet, medical history and life style habits in brazilian schoolchildren. Methods: The sample consisted of a random single centre cluster of 414 adolescents (12 and 16 years old) of both genders from private and public schools in Bauru-SP (Brazil). The O'Brien (1994) index was used for dental erosion assessment. Data on medical history, rate and frequency of food and drinks consumption and life style habits were collected by a self-reported questionnaire. The associations between dental erosion and the variables under study were investigated by univariate analysis through Chi-square and Mann-Whitney tests. The statistical significance level was set at 5%. Results: The erosion present group comprised 83 subjects and the erosion absent group 383. There were no statistically significant correlations between dental erosion and the consumption of food and drinks, medical history or life style habits. Conclusion: The results indicate that there was no correlation between dental erosion and the risk factors analysed among adolescents in Bauru/Brazil and further investigations are necessary to clarify the multifactorial etiology of this condition.