Erosive Tooth Wear in Children and Adolescents: Awareness, Knowledge, and Management: A Case-Based Questionnaire Among Greek Dentists

Abstract

Background/Objective: With a prevalence linked to modern lifestyle, erosive tooth wear (ETW) is a growing clinical problem among children and adolescents. The aim of this cross-sectional study was to record the awareness and knowledge of ETW among Greek dentists and to explore their preferred treatment decisions. Methods: A case-based digital questionnaire was distributed to a stratified sample of dentists practising in Athens (n = 218). We collected data regarding clinical scoring, possible aetiological factors, and clinical management of ETW and used descriptive statistics, chi-square tests, and odds ratio calculations to process the outcome. Results: The response rate was 92%. The majority (71%) recorded ETW among their patients, but only 5% used an established and validated scoring system. Almost 1/3 registered only the location of the lesions. Over 70% disclosed the possible causes of ETW, with frequent consumption of fizzy soft drinks (67%) and acidic foods (56%) being the most common. Most respondents managed the ETW patients in their own clinic, while 23% referred them to another dentist or a university clinic. The respondents focused on secondary prevention (dietary advice, oral hygiene, and fluoride exposure) and preferred less invasive options for anterior teeth, with restorative care restricted to the lower molars. Conclusions: The majority of the dentists participating in this survey registered ETW and its possible causes and seem to have adopted a preventive and minimally invasive approach for the management in children and adolescents. For the case documentation, a minority took advantage of standardised scoring systems for lesions and dietary habits, and very few performed salivary diagnostics. The findings underscore the need of continuing education to offer updates on the most current guidelines and focusing on patients’ needs and expectations.