CLINICAL EVALUATION OF THE ASSOCIATION BETWEEN NONCARIOUS CERVICAL LESIONS AND OCCLUSAL FORCES

Statement of problem. Noncarious cervical lesions (NCCLs) are a frequent challenge in clinical dental practice, given the variety of opinions regarding their etiology, diagnosis, and treatment. Purpose. The purpose of this study was to assess the potential relationship between occlusal forces and the occurrence of NCCLs. Material and methods. The participant population consisted of 111 volunteers (30 male and 81 female, mean age 23.6 years). General personal information was recorded, after which participants were examined for the presence and location of NCCLs, gingival recession, fracture lines, dental and restoration fractures, presence and location of tooth wear, type of occlusal guidance scheme for lateral mandibular movements, and existence of occlusal interference or premature contacts. The participants were divided according to the presence or absence of NCCLs, and data were statistically analyzed with the Independent t test, the Chi-square test, and the Fisher exact test (alpha=.05). Results. A significant association was found between the presence of NCCLs and age (P=.008), gingival recession (P<.001), occlusal trauma (P<.001), presence (P<.001) and location of tooth wear, and group function as occlusal guidance scheme in lateral excursive movements (P<.001). Conclusions. A strong relationship between the presence of NCCLs and occlusal overload was found. (J Prosthet Dent 2012;108:298-303)