Dental Erosion and BEWE Score Overview

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Questions and Answers

What does a cumulative BEWE score of 18 indicate?

There is a moderate amount of tooth wear evident

There is a severe amount of tooth wear evident

There is less than 50% tooth wear in all sextants

There is more than 50% tooth wear in each sextant (correct)

Which of the following are clinical signs of dental erosion? (Select two)

Jagged deep cavities on the incisal surfaces of anterior teeth

Labial surface lesions on the maxillary incisors (correct)

Early lesions on the mesial and distal surfaces of first permanent molars

Smooth, flat facets on the occlusal surfaces of posterior teeth (correct)

What causes dental abrasion?

Erosion of the buccal and labial surfaces

A combination of occlusal forces at the cervical region

Frequent exposure to acids

Frequent exposure to objects/factors other than teeth or acids (correct)

What do symptoms of dentine hypersensitivity indicate?

May be a sign of active tooth wear if dentine is exposed (C) Signup and view all the answers

What dietary advice can help prevent dental erosion?

Avoiding brushing teeth within 10 minutes of acid attacks (D) Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following statements about dental wear is false?

All types of tooth wear are reversible with treatment (B) Signup and view all the answers

Which factor does NOT contribute to tooth wear?

Brittle dental materials (A) Signup and view all the answers

What is NOT a common clinical sign of dental erosion?

Gingival recession around posterior teeth (D) Signup and view all the answers

In the BEWE, what score is assigned to a sextant with less than 50% loss of tooth structure?

2 (A) Signup and view all the answers

Which BEWE score corresponds to a sextant with more than 50% loss of tooth structure?

3 (A) Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary purpose of the BEWE tool?

To screen for signs of tooth wear (A) Signup and view all the answers

Which critical pH level is significant for enamel?

5.5 (A) Signup and view all the answers

What is the BEWE acronym short for?

Basic Erosion Wear Exam (C) Signup and view all the answers

Which statement about tooth wear is correct?

Tooth wear can occur due to a combination of factors. (A) Signup and view all the answers

When assessing a patient's risk of tooth wear, which factor is crucial to consider?

The rate and severity of wear compared to the patient's age (B) Signup and view all the answers

What is the effect of fluoride on the critical pH of enamel?

Fluoride reduces the critical pH. (B) Signup and view all the answers

Which factor best predisposes a patient to tooth wear?

Reduced quantity and quality of saliva (A) Signup and view all the answers

Tooth wear caused primarily by tooth-to-tooth contact is referred to as:

Dental attrition (B) Signup and view all the answers

Which salivary factor enhances the teeth's protection against tooth wear?

Buffering action of stimulated saliva (A) Signup and view all the answers

What is the consequence when dentine is exposed regarding BEWE scoring?

The minimum score is 2. (C) Signup and view all the answers

What describes tooth wear correctly?

Multifactorial and irreversible (D) Signup and view all the answers

In which scenario is tooth wear considered reversible?

Under no circumstances, tooth wear is irreversible. (B) Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

BEWE Score Interpretation

A BEWE score of 18 indicates severe tooth wear, with more than 50% tooth loss in each sextant.

Clinical Signs of Dental Erosion

Smooth, flat facets on posterior teeth occlusal surfaces are a sign.
Scooped-out lesions on the first permanent molars' occlusal surfaces are another sign.
Labial surface lesions on maxillary incisors are also indicative.

Dental Abrasion Causes

Frequent exposure to non-acidic, non-tooth objects (e.g., abrasive materials) causes abrasion. This is not caused by acids.

Dentine Hypersensitivity and Tooth Wear

Exposed dentin signifies active tooth wear, not stable wear.

Dietary Advice for Preventing Dental Erosion

Limiting acid consumption to a maximum of 3 times a day. This is important for prevention.

BEWE Sextant Scoring

A score of 2 indicates less than 50% loss of tooth structure in a sextant.
A score of 3 indicates more than 50% loss of tooth structure in a sextant.

Tooth Wear Factors

Tooth wear results from a combination of erosion, abrasion, and attrition.
Tooth wear prevalence increases with age.
Tooth wear is typically not reversible.
Tooth wear can be external (e.g., acid exposure) or internal (e.g., acids produced by bacteria).
Early detection is difficult.

BEWE Acronym Explanation

BEWE stands for Basic Erosive Wear Examination.

Enamel's Critical pH

Enamel's critical pH is 5.5.

Fluoride and Enamel Critical pH

Fluoride incorporation lowers the enamel's critical pH.

BEWE Tool Purpose

The primary function of the BEWE tool is screening for tooth wear.

Tooth Wear and Age

Tooth wear prevalence is linked to age, increasing with advancing years.

Dental Attrition Definition

Tooth-to-tooth contact is the primary factor in attrition.

Assessing Tooth Wear Risk

Evaluating wear rate and severity relative to a patient's age is critical.
Examining exposed dentin is important.

Minimum BEWE Score for Exposed Dentin

A BEWE score of 2 is the minimum for a sextant with exposed dentin.

BEWE Score for No Tooth Wear

A BEWE score of 0 indicates no detectable tooth wear.

Salivary Factors and Tooth Wear Protection

Saliva's buffering action from stimulated production neutralizes oral acids; it protects teeth.
Reduced saliva quality and quantity can expose teeth to acids, increasing tooth wear risk.

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Description

This quiz covers the interpretation of BEWE scores, clinical signs of dental erosion, and dietary advice for preventing tooth wear. Learn about the causes of dental abrasion and the significance of exposed dentin in assessing tooth health. Test your understanding of these critical dental concepts.