COMPARISON OF TOOTHBRUSH-RELATED CERVICAL DENTAL ABRASION BETWEEN LEFT- AND RIGHT-HANDED INDIVIDUAL

Abstract

Objective: To compare toothbrush-related cervical dental abrasion between left- and right handed individual

Materials and methods: This comparative cross-sectional study was conducted at Rawal General and dental hospital from January 1, 2023 to October 1, 2023 on 383 individuals selected through non-probability consecutive sampling. Subjects with an age range from 18 to 60 years, of both genders, who are Pakistani nationals and seeking dental treatment, were included. Those individuals with abnormal habits such as smoking, heavy stains, and plaque deposits, non-compliance with brushing, existing medical conditions, and those unwilling to participate were excluded from the study. The participants were divided into two groups right and left handed through history. Tooth Wear Index (TWI). The TWI scores were utilized to diagnose the presence and type of cervical defects, and the assessment extended to comparisons both between and within different groups. Chi-square test and student t test was employed to compare tooth wear with brushing between the two groups.

Results: The mean age was 39.23 ± 12.01 years, with 45.17% females and 54.83% males. About 16.71% of participants used their left hand. Among those who brushed with their left hand, 64 (60.94%) exhibited no tooth wear, while 39.06% showed signs of tooth wear. For individuals brushing with their right hand, 319 (68.34%) had no tooth wear, and 31.66% displayed evidence of tooth wear. The mean tooth wear scores were 0.86 ± 1.22 for left-handed individuals and 0.68 ± 0.16 for right-handed individuals, with no statistically significant difference (p = 0.29). Tooth wear severity analysis revealed no significant difference (p = 0.43) between left and right-handed individuals across various categories.

Conclusion: Left-handedness was observed in 16%, and there was no significant difference in tooth-brushing-related abrasion in the cervical area between left and right-handed individuals.