The suitability of a new index for the evaluation of dental wear

The suitability of a new index for rating dental wear by different observers was tested. Four dentists, who were first calibrated using the scoring system and then subjected to an inter-examiner agreement test before and after a field study, rated 167 individuals in total in their private dental practices. The incisal/occlusal state of the teeth with regard to restorations and dental wear was recorded. The inter-examiner agreement test proved satisfactory when rating main groups of wear but not so good when rating subcategories. However, a marked improvement in agreement developed between the first and the second test. The individuals composing the field study group are probably not representative of Scandinavian populations in general. Relatively few teeth were missing, and the teeth were well restored. Only the highest age group (80-89 years) displayed the most severe degree of wear to any extent. However, wear into the dentin was observed in 20% of the teeth already in the youngest age group (20-29 yea...