Can Worn Down Teeth Be Fixed
Tooth wear is a normal part of the aging process that can cause patients to look older than their years. Three types of dental afflictions can cause your teeth to wear down faster than what is normal from daily wear and tear including: abrasion, attrition, and erosion.
Abrasion is simply the wearing down that happens due to an external force like brushing too aggressively. Attrition is dental wear that occurs with tooth on tooth contact, such as bruxism which is unconscious clenching and grinding that often occurs during sleep. Erosion is tooth wear that happens due to prolonged exposure to acids. Patients with gastric reflux or bulimia have a lot of trouble with tooth erosion as do those who eat and drink products with a high acidity like citrus juices and sodas.
Treatment Options For Tooth Wear
There are a number of options available to patients with extensive tooth wear. Cosmetic dentistry can rebuild worn down teeth and restore them to their original length, shape, and function! Contouring, bonding, and dental veneers and crowns are great treatments for tooth wear.
Cosmetic Contouring
Minor wear can be smoothed with a little contouring! Teeth with small chips or with areas that are worn flat can be restored with reshaping. Cosmetic contouring does not require anesthetic and is a very conservative and cost-effective option.
Composite Bonding
Composite bonding is a resin material that can be tinted to match your natural tooth color. It is most often used to restore a cavity but can also be placed to repair chips and wear. Bonding does not require anesthetic and is generally reserved to restore posterior teeth. Even though bonding is very durable, bite force that is applied to anterior teeth when biting into foods and speaking can lead to chipped bonding. Bonding does not require additional loss of tooth structure, it is applied on top of existing surfaces.
Porcelain Restorations
Severe tooth wear can be restored with porcelain crowns and veneers. Crowns are typically reserved for posterior teeth and veneers can be applied to anterior teeth. Veneers are not appropriate for posterior teeth because they only go on the front surface of the tooth, therefore, only the teeth that show when you smile. Crowns cover the entire surface of the tooth above the gum line.
Bruxism is the unconscious clenching and grinding that many of us do in our sleep and is often an unfortunate side effect of stress. Patients that suffer from bruxism would benefit from a night guard, especially if they have dental restorations. Grinding your teeth can damage enamel, cause jaw pain, irritate your gum tissue, and wear down your teeth. Night guards are custom-made by a dental lab to fit properly and provide a buffer between the occlusal surfaces of your teeth while you sleep.
Tooth wear can lead to more serious, harder to treat issues. It is important to visit your dentist as soon as you notice any flat areas on the occlusal surface of your teeth (the surface used for biting and chewing). Without treatment, tooth wear can progress and lead to fractures in the teeth, inflamed gum tissue, and even infection in the tooth.