Aim: The aim of this study was to assess the prevalence of tooth wear in young adults in Poland.
Methods: A total of 1,886 persons aged 18 years, selected on a basis of multistage sampling, were examined within the Nationwide Dental Health Monitoring Programme. Previously calibrated dentists measured tooth wear using the BEWE-scoring system (Basic Erosive Wear Examination).
Results: Out of 1,886 young adults, 42.2% presented the signs of dental erosion. Considered the severity of erosion, it was graded as 1, 2 and 3 in 28.9%, 11.9% and 1.5% of 18-year-olds, respectively.
Conclusions: Results of clinical assessment of dental erosion in 18-year-old young adults revealed that erosive tooth wear is an important problem in this age group. Of them, 13.4% had signs of advanced tooth wear which may lead to serious clinical problems in the future.