Challenges in developing a universal index for recording tooth wear: a scoping review

Introduction Tooth wear is increasingly prevalent globally and presents diagnostic and treatment challenges that require the development of standardised indices for monitoring and timing intervention. Tooth wear is becoming more common among younger cohorts and is not entirely dependent on age, but is influenced by factors including diet and lifestyle. Given its multifactorial nature, pinpointing a single causative factor is challenging. Nevertheless, it is crucial to establish systems and indices for monitoring the progression of tooth wear, enabling timely intervention. This review aimed to determine which tooth wear index could be recommended for use in general dental practice and within different settings. Materials and methods The literature was investigated for the most used tooth wear indices since 2017 through databases of international journals (PUBMED, Google Scholar, and ScienceDirect). Once the field of articles was narrowed, it allowed a concise number of indices to be accounted for. Results A total of 758 papers were retrieved from the search engines after using pre-specified search matrices. These papers were filtered by two independent reviewers, leaving 39 papers that fit the eligibility criteria. Information regarding index used, design/settings of the study, country, sample size, age, and outcomes were extracted from these papers to synthesise the evidence. Conclusion This review revealed a multitude of indices proposed for the classification and recording of tooth wear in the general population. However, none of these indices fully embody the ideal characteristics of being both user friendly and capable of providing all-inclusive information.