Jebmh.com Review Article J. Evid. Based Med. Healthc., pISSN- 2349-2562, eISSN- 2349-2570/ Vol. 4/Issue 50/June 22, 2017 Page 3070 DENTAL EROSION IN PRIMARY DENTITION- A REVIEW Rafi Shaik 1 1 Senior Lecturer, Department of Public Health Dentistry, CKS Theja Institute of Dental Sciences and Research, Tirupati, Andhra Pradesh. ABSTRACT BACKGROUND The pattern of oral diseases has been influenced by ever changing human lifestyle. Tooth wear especially dental erosion has drawn increasing attention as risk factor for tooth damage or loss in recent years. It is a common condition in primary dentition compared to permanent dentition due to thinner and less mineralised enamel. However, it is more worrying, when this condition is being found in an alarming proportion among children. The presence of dental erosion in children is likely to be associated with a number of general health and dietary factors, but it is also aggravated by the relatively more rapid progression of erosion in the deciduous teeth. An understanding of the aetiologies and risk factors for erosion is important for early recognition of dental erosion to prevent serious irreversible damage to the dentition. This paper discusses the erosion in children with regard to its epidemiology, prevalence, clinical features, measurement and prevention. KEYWORDS Dental Erosion, Epidemiology, Primary Dentition, Prevention. HOW TO CITE THIS ARTICLE: Shaik R. Dental erosion in primary dentition- A review. J. Evid. Based Med. Healthc. 2017; 4(50), 3070-3076. DOI: 10.18410/jebmh/2017/609 BACKGROUND The pattern of oral diseases has been influenced by ever changing human lifestyle. Tooth wear, especially tooth erosion has drawn increasing attention as a risk factor for tooth damage or loss in recent years. 1 Dental erosion according to Pindborg (1970) 2 is superficial loss of dental hard tissue by a chemical process that does not involve bacteria. The term ‘erosion’ derived from the Latin verb erodere (to gnaw, to corrode) describes the process of gradual destruction of the surface of material usually by mechanical, electrolytic or chemical processes. 3 Dental erosion seems to be a problem for the dental profession in this millennium. It is still doubtful if this is due to a true increase in its prevalence or the dental profession has become more aware of the condition with better diagnostic acumen. However, it is more worrying when this condition is found in an alarming proportion among children. 2 The UK Child Dental Survey in 1993 found that there were over 50% of five-year-old children with erosion in their primary incisors. If this condition is not controlled and stabilised, the child may suffer severe tooth surface loss, tooth sensitivity, over closure and poor aesthetics. 4 Since the evolution of mankind, drastic changes have occurred in dietary patterns with much emphasis placed on consumption of healthy food and drinks. 5 The changing trend in lifestyle has replaced the commonly consumed fluids like milk and water with carbonated soft drinks and fruit juices. 6 Global sales of soft drinks have increased by 56% and is estimated that it will keep rising at about 2-3% annually per every year. 7 In developed countries, more than half of liquids consumed come from daily intake of soft drinks. According to the survey conducted in United States by Centre for Science in the Public Interest, found an average consumption of soft drinks in 2002 was approximately 16 ounces per day representating about 25% of recommended daily fluid intake of 67 ounces. 8 It was estimated that 1000 million litres of soft drinks was sold in the United Kingdom in 1950 and by 1990 this had increased. 9 Among different age groups, the largest increase in soft drinks consumption has occurred among children and adolescents. Forty per cent of preschool children drink more than 250 mL of soft drinks per day in United States. 8 There are no Indian surveys regarding soft drinks consumption per day in children. Apart from carbonated drinks, fruit juices are also introduced into child’s diet at a younger age. Recent studies have shown that children aged between 2 and 9 years consume 42% of fruit drinks. 10 Consumption of these drinks by children of all ages is popular worldwide as they are sweet. These commonly used beverages cause damage to the teeth due to their low pH and high titrable acidity leading to non-carious tooth loss also known as dental erosion. 8 Classification of Dental Erosion There are different classifications for dental erosion based on pathogenicity, severity and based on whether it is idiopathic, extrinsic or intrinsic in origin. Mannerberg (1960) 11 Classification Based on Pathogenic Activity 1. Manifest Erosion Actively progressing erosion is clinically diagnosed by its enamel border zones. These are thin where they meet the exposed dentin. In the Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM), Financial or Other, Competing Interest: None. Submission 09-06-2017, Peer Review 15-06-2017, Acceptance 20-06-2017, Published 22-06-2017. Corresponding Author: Dr. Rafi Shaik, No. 16-11-65, Haranatha Puram, 4 th Lane, Nellore, Andhra Pradesh. E-mail: drrafimdsphd@gmail.com DOI: 10.18410/jebmh/2017/609