Longitudinal Assessment of Dental Erosion in a Romanian Cohort of Young Adults: - A Ten-Years Follow-Up Pilot Study

Background: Dental erosion is the irreversible loss of tooth structure from acid exposure. Its prevalence is rising globally, making it an important oral health concern. However, longitudinal data from Eastern Europe are scarce, especially in Romania. This pilot study aimed to assess the 10-year incidence of dental erosion in Romanian young adults and to compare clinical index scoring with digital scanning for early detection. Methods: A 10-year prospective study followed 540 Romanian adults (aged 18–30) selected with no erosive lesions at baseline (BEWE = 0). Erosive wear was assessed at 10-year follow-up using BEWE, with 40 participants also undergoing digital intraoral scanning to measure enamel loss (μm). Gender differences were analyzed. Chi-square tests, relative risk, and correlation analyses were performed. Results: After 10 years, 23.2% of participants de-veloped dental erosion. Males exhibited a higher incidence than females (29.9% vs 17.2%; RR = 1.74, p < 0.001). Among the scanned subset (n = 40), mean enamel loss was 137 ± 79 µm, with greater wear on palatal vs buccal surfaces (p = 0.002). BEWE scores were moderately correlated with digital enamel loss (r = 0.58, p < 0.001). Conclusions: Over a decade, dental erosion accumulated in this cohort, with males at higher risk. Digital scanning detected subtle enamel loss not captured by BEWE, indicating higher sensitivity for early changes. BEWE and digital methods provided complementary information; combined use offers a more comprehensive assessment.