Introduction:

among the findings that can be detected during the oral examination are tooth decay, which are considered pathological processes that cause an irreversible loss of the hard tissues of the tooth.

Objective:

to determine the location of tooth decay in adult patients and the associated risk factors in this population.

Methods:

a descriptive, prospective and longitudinal research was carried out in the Stomatology Department of the Abel Santamaría Cuadrado Hospital, Pinar del Río, in the period from December 2021 to March 2022, studying intentionally 94 patients who met the inclusion criteria. Sociodemographic variables, location of tooth wear, systemic diseases and risk factors were studied. Oral examination was performed and empirical and statistical methods were used, as well as Pearson's Chi-square for a significance level of p<0.05.

Results:

there was a predominance of affected patients in the age group of 60 years and older (34,93 %), female sex (50,86 %) and cervical region as location (50 %); it was demonstrated that there is a link between the presence of dental wear and the coexistence of risk factors of different nature in this population.

Conclusions:

a significant percentage of patients with dental wear was found in the population studied, being xerostomia, gastroesophageal reflux and bruxism the risk factors most associated to the location of dental wear.

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