ObjectiveTo investigate and analyze oral habits and occlusal contact characteristics in patients with non-carious cervical lesions (NCCL) and discuss the risk factors of NCCL.

MethodsA total of 29 NCCL patients (NCCL group) were selected, and 58 volunteers without NCCL were matched according to gender and age (control group).Questionnaire on oral habits such as frequency of brushing, brushing style, frequency of acidic food/carbonated beverages consumption, night grinding or clenching of teeth was performed.Twenty-nine affected teeth were selected intraorally from the subjects in the NCCL group, with the contralateral same-named tooth as the control tooth, and the occlusal parameters were measured and analyzed in orthodromic, anterior and lateral movements by applying the T-scan Ⅲ system.

ResultsThere is no significant correlation between NCCL and the frequency of brushing, technique of brushing, acid diet (P>0.05).However, the proportion of NCCL subjects with night bruxism or tooth clinching was significantly higher than the control subjects (P < 0.01).The results of T-scan Ⅲ occlusion parameters showed that the percentages of overall force in the centric occlusion and protrusion occlusion of NCCL sides were higher than those of the control sides (P < 0.01 and P < 0.05).The disclusion time of NCCL sides as working sides in lateral occlusion was higher than that of the control sides as working sides (P < 0.05).The occlusal force of NCCL teeth in centric occlusion, protrusion occlusion and lateral occlusion were higher than those of the control teeth (P < 0.05 to P < 0.01).The incidence of premature contact and high occlusal point in NCCL teeth was higher than control teeth (P < 0.01 and P < 0.05).

ConclusionsThe oral habit of tooth clinching or bruxism in NCCL patients and the traumatic occlusion force of the affected teeth during occlusal contacts may be risk factors for cervical lesions.