Prevalence of dentinal hypersensitivity and dental erosion among competitive swimmers, Kerala, India

Background: Professional swimmers face a hidden occupational hazard due to improper maintenance of pool. Ill maintained pools can lead to erosive effects on dental health and thus needs to be evaluated. Methodology: Fifty-six competitive swimmers from two training centers were contacted and surveyed for swimming exposure and oral health. A visual analog scale was used to rate the tooth sensitivity. Dental erosion and dental caries were recorded according to WHO oral health assessment criteria (2013). The dentinal hypersensitivity experience was assessed using the dentine hypersensitivity experience questionnaire - 15 (DHEQ-15). Data were analyzed using Chi-square test and multivariate analysis. Results: The prevalence of dentinal hypersensitivity and dental erosion was found to be 69.6% and 48.2%, respectively. The common surfaces affected by dental erosion were palatal surfaces of maxillary anterior, followed by lingual surfaces of mandibular anterior. There was a direct association between duration of the stay in pool and dental erosion. The DHEQ-15 questionnaire revealed that more than 80% of the participants never felt these sensations had any serious long-term effects on oral health. Conclusions: Oral health professional must understand dental erosion among competitive swimmers as an occupational oral health hazard and provide early counseling and necessary invasive and noninvasive care.