Journal of Dental Research, Vol 67, 1323-1333, Copyright © 1988 by International & American Associations for Dental Research Online Journals
The prevalence of dental attrition and its association with factors of age, gender, occlusion, and TMJ symptomatology
D. A. Seligman, A. G. Pullinger and W. K. Solberg
Section of Gnathology and Occlusion, UCLA School of Dentistry 90024.
Dental attrition severity in 222 young adults was assessed from dental
casts as the sum of the most severe facet in each arch segment. The
attrition scores were compared by age, gender, bruxism awareness, prior
bite adjustment, orthodontic class, maxillomandibular relationship, and
temporomandibular dysfunction symptoms. Awareness of bruxism was not
associated with the wear scores and should not be used to define bruxist
groups. Attrition scores did not differ significantly between age groups,
indicating that notable attrition, when present, often occurs early. Men
had higher attrition scores than women (p less than 0.01), despite fewer
signs and symptoms. Dental attrition was not associated with the presence
or absence of TMJ clicking, TMJ tenderness, or masticatory muscle
tenderness. Class II division 2 males had laterotrusive attrition scores
lower than those of Class III (p less than 0.05). Class III females had
lower incisor attrition scores than did other Angle Classes (p less than
0.05). Discernible dental attrition in a non-patient population was not
associated with signs and symptoms of temporomandibular disorders, nor with
the occlusal factors studied. These results are compatible with the
findings in other studies that point to bruxism as a centrally induced
phenomenon common to all people and unrelated to local factors.
