A cross-sectional in vivo pilot study on the relationship between interproximal wear and facial form

The main goal of this pilot study was to determine if a correlation was present between interproximal wear rate and facial form and/or interproximal wear surface area and facial form. Additionally, interproximal wear was evaluated with regards to salivary pH. VPS impressions of interproximal tooth surfaces were captured in 29 adolescent volunteers after orthodontic separation and prior to band placement. A positive replica was created using a type IV die stone. The subsequent die stones were scanned, analyzed and interproximal wear surface area measurments were calculated. Correlation tests revealed that there was no clear or consistent relationship between interproximal wear and facial form and interproximal wear and salivary pH. Methodological limitations were discussed and potential changes for future research were presented.