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Burke FM, Whelton H, Harding M, Crowley E, O’Mullane D, Cronin M, Kelleher V, Byrtek M. Fluoridation and tooth wear in Irish adults. Community Dent Oral Epidemiol 2010; 38: 415–421. © 2010 John Wiley & Sons A/S The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of tooth wear in adults in Ireland and its relationship with water fluoridation. The National Survey of Adult Oral Health was conducted in 2000/2001. Tooth wear was determined using a partial mouth examination assessing the upper and lower anterior teeth. A total of 2456 subjects were examined. In this survey, increasing levels and severity of tooth wear were associated with ageing. Men were more affected by tooth wear and were more likely to be affected by severe tooth wear than women. It was found that age, and gender were significant predictors of tooth wear ( P < 0.01). Overall, there was no significant relationship between fluoridation and tooth wear in this study. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: The aim of the study was to assess the reliability and construct validity of the Child Oral Health-Related Quality of Life for 8-10-year-olds (COHRQoL [8-10]) using confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) and to test the measurement properties of latent variables believed to define the multidimensional construct of OHRQoL. Methods: A convenience sample of 270, year 4 children from six schools was obtained. The administered questionnaire included the 25-item COHRQoL [8-10] and the Coopersmith Self-Esteem Inventory-School Form. The analytical method was based upon CFA using maximum likelihood estimation. A second-order factoring approach was applied to determine the extent that the latent variables tapped a single over-arching domain of quality of life. Results: Seven items were withdrawn for low endorsement and poor association with resultant factors. The COHRQoL [8-10] was confirmed to measure a single construct of three latent variables invariant to gender. Internal consistency of the three scales derived comprising a total of 18 retained items was acceptable. Associations with self-esteem and with a single question on the extent that the mouth was a problem were confirmed and strengthened the construct validity of the COHRQoL [8-10] measure. Conclusions: Reliability and construct validity were demonstrated for COHRQoL [8-10] and supported the scale for adoption as an epidemiological and scientific tool for group comparisons. CFA showed that the three constructs or latent variables underlying the overall COHRQoL ratings were discrete measures that can be reliably assessed in children. Further model testing with additional data will increase generalization of these findings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]