Dental Attrition Rates in Athletes: A Comparative Study
Start Date
April 2026
Location
3rd floor - Library
Abstract
Dental wear is a process involving enamel loss caused by mechanical and chemical factors such as attrition, abrasion, and erosion. Bruxism, or excessive grinding and clenching of the teeth, is strongly associated with attritional wear and is more common in individuals experiencing physical stress. Athletes are considered a higher-risk population for bruxism due to sustained muscle tension during training and competition. While previous research has documented the prevalence of tooth wear in athletes, fewer studies have examined the rate at which this wear occurs. This study investigated whether athletic status influences the rate of dental wear using digital scans from the I-Tero imaging system at Pearce Dental Group. Wear rates were calculated by comparing crown height changes over time for teeth 8, 9, 24, and 25. A two-way ANOVA revealed a significant difference in wear between athletes and non-athletes, with athletes exhibiting greater enamel loss. However, this result was observed only for tooth 8; the other teeth did not show a significant difference. Follow-up t-tests indicated that this effect was tooth-specific. This test combined teeth 8 and 9 and teeth 24 and 25 and showed no significant difference between wear rates of athletes and non-athletes (P > 0.05). These findings suggest that athletic-related tooth wear may occur at localized contact points rather than uniformly.
Dental Attrition Rates in Athletes: A Comparative Study
3rd floor - Library
Dental wear is a process involving enamel loss caused by mechanical and chemical factors such as attrition, abrasion, and erosion. Bruxism, or excessive grinding and clenching of the teeth, is strongly associated with attritional wear and is more common in individuals experiencing physical stress. Athletes are considered a higher-risk population for bruxism due to sustained muscle tension during training and competition. While previous research has documented the prevalence of tooth wear in athletes, fewer studies have examined the rate at which this wear occurs. This study investigated whether athletic status influences the rate of dental wear using digital scans from the I-Tero imaging system at Pearce Dental Group. Wear rates were calculated by comparing crown height changes over time for teeth 8, 9, 24, and 25. A two-way ANOVA revealed a significant difference in wear between athletes and non-athletes, with athletes exhibiting greater enamel loss. However, this result was observed only for tooth 8; the other teeth did not show a significant difference. Follow-up t-tests indicated that this effect was tooth-specific. This test combined teeth 8 and 9 and teeth 24 and 25 and showed no significant difference between wear rates of athletes and non-athletes (P > 0.05). These findings suggest that athletic-related tooth wear may occur at localized contact points rather than uniformly.
