Non‐carious cervical lesions (NCCLs) and associated factors: A multilevel analysis in a cohort study in southern Brazil

• Published in: Journal of clinical periodontology Vol. 49; no. 1; pp. 48 - 58
• Main Authors: Demarco, Flávio Fernando, Cademartori, Mariana Gonzalez, Hartwig, Andréia Drawanz, Lund, Rafael Guerra, Azevedo, Marina Sousa, Horta, Bernardo Lessa, Corrêa, Marcos Britto, Huysmans, Marie‐Charlotte D. N. J. M.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Oxford, UK Blackwell Publishing Ltd 01-01-2022
• Subjects: Adult; Birth Cohort; Brazil - epidemiology; Cohort analysis; Cohort Studies; Cross-Sectional Studies; epidemiology; Female; Humans; Male; Maxilla; Multilevel Analysis; non‐carious cervical lesions; Premolars; prevalence; Tooth Cervix; Toothbrushing; Brazil; cohort studies; epidemiology; prevalence; non-carious cervical lesions
• ISSN: 0303-6979; 1600-051X
• DOI: 10.1111/jcpe.13549

Aim
To investigate the prevalence of non‐carious cervical lesions (NCCLs) and their association with individual and tooth‐related factors in adults from the 1982 Pelotas Birth Cohort.
Materials and methods
Participants were interviewed and clinically examined at the age of 31. NCCL was defined as loss of dental tissue without bacterial involvement in the cervical region. Independent variables were the socioeconomic, demographic, behavioural, and clinical characteristics. Associations were tested using a multilevel Poisson regression model.
Results
Five‐hundred and thirty‐nine participants were clinically examined, with a 26% prevalence of NCCLs, which were more prevalent in the maxilla (56.5%) and in premolars (72.9%). In the multilevel analysis, women presented lower prevalence than men [prevalence ratio (PR) 0.59 (0.48–0.73)]; those who reported smoking at both 22 and 30 years of age had more NCCLs than those who never smoked [PR 1.65 (1.31–2.07)]; and high‐frequency brushers presented higher prevalence than low‐frequency brushers [PR 1.26 (1.03–1.55)]. Gingival recession increased 10 times the prevalence of NCCLs [PR 10.03 (8.15–12.35)], while the presence of periodontal pockets (≥4 mm) reduced the prevalence of NCCLs [PR 0.43 (0.28–0.66)].
Conclusions
NCCLs were more prevalent in males, smokers, and those with higher frequency of toothbrushing. While the presence of periodontal pockets was associated with a lower prevalence of NCCLs, gingival recession was a strong clinical indicator for the presence of NCCLs.