A controlled study of dental erosion in 2- to 4-year-old twins.

BACKGROUND Dental erosion (DE) in children is a significant oral health issue and has become a focus for research in clinical paediatric dentistry. AIM This study investigated DE in the primary dentition of 2- to 4-year-old twin and singleton children with regard to the genetic, medical and dietary factors associated with the condition. DESIGN The 128 subjects consisted of 88 twin children (31 monozygous, 50 dizygous, 7 unknown zygosity) and singletons (n = 40) aged 2-4 years. Medical, dental, and dietary histories were obtained. The children were examined for DE using a modified index. RESULTS The prevalence of DE by subject affected was 77% in monozygotic twins (MZ), 74% in dizygotic twins (DZ), and 75% in singleton controls (P > 0.1). Of the teeth scored, 12% had mild, 10% moderate, and 1% severe lesions, and DE was more severe in the older age group (P < 0.05). Concordance rates for erosion lesions in MZ and DZ co-twins were not statistically significant. CONCLUSIONS The prevalence of DE and the concordance of erosion lesions were similar between MZ and DZ twins and singleton children, suggesting that the contribution of genetic factors to DE is negligible.