Taking pain out of appointments

The Basic Erosive Wear Examination (BEWE), originally introduced in 2008, was developed for clinicians working in general practice as a quick and simple method to record erosive tooth wear (ETW) severity in clinical notes. It’s designed for use alongside the Basic Periodontal Examination (BPE), allowing for both indices to be used simultaneously. Using the BEWE can help identify tooth wear and prompt patient discussion. It is quick and efficient to use, with four scoring codes, aiding early detection.

Indeed, leading oral health professionals advocate the BEWE as the most convenient, effective method to record ETW severity. They advocate its use routinely at each oral health assessment. Despite this, research indicates that experienced dental health care professionals were less likely to risk assess tooth wear and less likely to provide preventative treatment (O’Toole et al, 2018).