When two surfaces are rubbed
against each other, the surfaces will eventually wear away. How fast this
occurs and how much surface area is lost depends on the hardness of the surface
(resistance to abrasion) and how long the force (abrasive action) continues.
How
Abrasion Occurs
Enamel is an extremely hard
substance. Because of the hardness,
enamel can resist wear and last throughout a lifetime of chewing food. It
protects and covers the underlying and much softer inner tooth substance,
dentin, and nerve tissue.
While enamel is very
resistant to abrasion, it does occur. Here’s how: The most common abrasion we
see is when bottom front teeth rub against top front teeth. The enamel on the
biting surfaces of these teeth is moderately thick, up to approximately 2 mm.
Over the course of a person’s life, these teeth will come in contact and enamel
will slowly be lost. Normally, this happens quite slowly. This type of wear is
not of concern. The problem with excessive wear begins when a patient grinds or
clenches, putting more force on the teeth or working them together for long
periods of time. Although the enamel is very hard, if it is “abused” long
enough, it, too, will wear away. Wear occurs more quickly when a natural tooth
opposes a porcelain crown. Porcelain is much harder than enamel and may
actually wear the enamel away even under normal use. In this case it is
critical that the bite be properly adjusted to reduce this possibility.
Consequence
of Abrasion
Why is the accelerated wear
of enamel a problem? Although the wear continues on all teeth, it is most
visible on the lower front teeth. Lower front teeth may be the most important
teeth in your mouth, since they control the bite relationships of your top and
bottom jaws.
Once the enamel is worn
away, two undesirable things can happen. First, the exposed dentin can become
sensitive to air or temperature changes. Secondly, when not supported by
resilient dentin, the enamel can break off and the tooth will become smaller.
As this happens, the natural movement of the tooth pushes the tooth further out
of its socket. The now shorter tooth stops only when it meets its opposing
tooth. Additionally, the dentin tends to stain more readily than enamel, so
there will be a distinct and disagreeable cosmetic appearance that will become
excessive as time goes on.
Treatment
of Abrasion
The treatment of excessive
wear depends on how much tooth is missing. If only the enamel is affected, a
protective mouthguard is recommended. If a small to moderate amount of dentin
is exposed, it can easily be covered with a bonded, tooth-colored resin. The
resin, although not as resistant as the original enamel, is still much harder
than the dentin. If you still continue to grind or clench your teeth, the resin
will be the only tooth structure now affected. In extreme cases of excessive
wear, porcelain veneers or full crowns may be the only means of restoration.
Excessive wear is difficult
to diagnose in the early stages. It may take months and years for it to become
evident. When noted, it is best treated early when
there is the least amount of tooth loss and the highest chance for a
long-lasting, conservative solution.
If you have any questions about excessive wear,
please feel free to ask us at (512)250-5012.
-Omni Dental Group
Enamel can resist wear and last throughout a lifetime of chewing food. The treatment of excessive wear depends on how much tooth is missing. A protective mouthguard is recommended if it's enamel. Thanks for sharing such intersting information with us. Dentist in Ottawa recommend to visit dental clinic regularly and stay away from dental issues.
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