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Background: Easily applied, age-specific standards are useful in assisting clinicians to decide whether the extent of tooth wear observed in a given patient at a specific age is acceptable or whether intervention is indicated. Method: A simple method of scoring tooth wear and previously established mathematical relationships between tooth wear scores and age, provide the basis of a method for predicting tooth wear scores. In its most specific form, the method can be used to predict tooth wear scores for individual patients at subsequent ages. Alternatively, tables or graphs can be consulted to provide a less precise prediction of tooth wear that can assist clinicians to decide whether the amount of wear reflects high, moderate or low rates of wear at the specified age. Conclusion: In cases where there is no reason to believe that aetiological factors have changed significantly over time, data obtained from the methods described can assist clinicians to plan appropriate management for patients presenting with unacceptable levels of tooth wear. Key words: Tooth wear; attrition; erosion; abrasion; scoring. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Objective: In addition to its role as a remineralizing agent in preventing dental caries, calcium product (CPP–ACP) delivered as a mousse (Tooth Mousse®, TM) can reduce erosion of enamel and dentine. The aim of this study was to determine whether CPP–ACP could also reduce erosive tooth wear involving toothbrush abrasion. Methods: Flat, polished enamel and dentine specimens (n =72) were subjected to 10 wear regimes, with each regime involving erosion in 0.3% citric acid (pH 3.2) for 10min followed by toothbrush abrasion in a slurry of fluoride-free toothpaste and artificial saliva (1:3 ratio by weight) under a load of 2N for 200 cycles. The specimens were immersed in artificial saliva for 2h between wear regimes. In the experimental group 1, TM (containing CPP–ACP) was applied at the beginning of each wear episode for 5min whereas TM− (without CPP–ACP) was applied in the experimental group 2. No mousse was applied in the control group. Results: TM significantly reduced enamel wear (mean±S.E., 1.26±0.33μm in the experimental group 1 vs 3.48±0.43μm in the control group) and dentine wear (2.16±0.89μm in the experimental group 1 vs 10.29±1.64μm in the control group), and dentine wear was significantly less in the experimental group 1 than in the experimental group 2 (5.75±0.98μm). Conclusion: The finding that TM reduced erosive tooth wear involving toothbrush abrasion, probably by remineralizing and lubricating eroded tooth surfaces, may have implications in the management of tooth wear. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]