Tooth Wear

Tooth wear also known as attrition is the breakdown or wearing out of the chewing surfaces and edges of the teeth. We previously discussed erosion which is the loss of tooth structure by chemical means, usually acid from diet or the stomach. Attrition is a different in that it's caused by friction. This type of wear can only occur when the top and bottom teeth rub together. The intensity of the force that the teeth rub against each other, the frequency, and the presence of some modifying factors will have a huge effect on the extent of the damage.

Some factors that can contribute to tooth wear include tooth position, lack of slaiva (xerostomia), acid, and certain habits like teeth grinding (bruxism). Lets examine each of these a little closer. The way teeth are positioned can sometimes cause the teeth to wear out faster than your age indicates. The mouth is a chewing machine. Think of teeth like gears that fit together. If the fit is not ideal you should expect more wear and tear on the system. Lack of saliva can lead to more wear because saliva acts as a lubricant and buffers acids. Acids often teeth making the effect of friction from chewing or habits like teeth grinding more damaging. Teeth grinding is not something the system is designed to do. It serves no purpose, but some of us, like myself are hard wired in our brain to do this. There's nothing we can do to treat it at this time. We can only protect the teeth by the use of a guard.

The reason it's important to address teeth wear is because it's irreversible. Once that tooth structure is lost it's gone forever. If recognized early enough we can minimize future damage. At some point the teeth will have to be restored because of a functional reason or a cosmetic reason.

Treatment options must be based on the diagnosis of what's causing the problem. For more info please visit our website at http://www.tmdds.com/ or call us at 559-229-2288.