[Tooth wear in Hindu betel nut chewers][Article in Polish]


1: Przegl Lek. 2006;63(10):882-6.Links
[Tooth wear in Hindu betel nut chewers][Article in Polish]


Gerreth K.
Klinika Stomatologii Dzieciecej, Katedry Stomatologii Dzieciecej,
Akademii Medycznej w Poznaniu. karolinagerreth@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Literature data describe the impact of certain factors on oral health.
Very well known is habitual chewing of different plant products,
including tobacco, which depending on the geographical area and the
substances used, have various names. It has been estimated that
approximately 200 million residents of the West Pacific Rim and South-
East Asia indulge in betel chewing. Betel is composed of a leaf of the
betel pepper, lime, tobacco and the nut of the areca palm. This study
aimed to assess the degree of abrasive changes in residents of the
Korunalaya Leprosy Care Center. The examinations were carried out on
85 patients (45 females and 40 males), aged 35-95 years, at the local
dental surgery. Patients had their teeth assessed and they were
further interviewed as to the duration of their habit with regard to
their sex and age (35-44; 45-64 and > or = 65 years). The abrasive
changes were evaluated using Gerasimov's 7-degree scale. Interview
data indicate that 71.76% of the patients were habitual betel chewers.
Among female patients, third-degree abrasion was the most frequent
change while among males--fifth degree (53.3% and 45.0%,
respectively). The abrasive changes, increasing with age, can be
attributed to the duration of betel chewing. It is worth noticing that
a vegetarian diet can be a contributing factor to abrasion as most of
the food consumed by Hindus are plants.

PMID: 17288176



Gerreth K.
Klinika Stomatologii Dzieciecej, Katedry Stomatologii Dzieciecej,
Akademii Medycznej w Poznaniu. karolinagerreth@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Literature data describe the impact of certain factors on oral health.
Very well known is habitual chewing of different plant products,
including tobacco, which depending on the geographical area and the
substances used, have various names. It has been estimated that
approximately 200 million residents of the West Pacific Rim and South-
East Asia indulge in betel chewing. Betel is composed of a leaf of the
betel pepper, lime, tobacco and the nut of the areca palm. This study
aimed to assess the degree of abrasive changes in residents of the
Korunalaya Leprosy Care Center. The examinations were carried out on
85 patients (45 females and 40 males), aged 35-95 years, at the local
dental surgery. Patients had their teeth assessed and they were
further interviewed as to the duration of their habit with regard to
their sex and age (35-44; 45-64 and > or = 65 years). The abrasive
changes were evaluated using Gerasimov's 7-degree scale. Interview
data indicate that 71.76% of the patients were habitual betel chewers.
Among female patients, third-degree abrasion was the most frequent
change while among males--fifth degree (53.3% and 45.0%,
respectively). The abrasive changes, increasing with age, can be
attributed to the duration of betel chewing. It is worth noticing that
a vegetarian diet can be a contributing factor to abrasion as most of
the food consumed by Hindus are plants.

PMID: 17288176

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