Worn Teeth

Worn teeth are very common, particularly in older people. Worn teeth are the result of three distinct factors, often in combination.

• Attrition: This is tooth-to-tooth wear on the biting edges of the teeth caused by daily grinding or clenching.
• Abrasion: This type of tooth wear occurs from brushing too harshly and aggressively which usually affects the sides and necks of the teeth.
• Erosion: This loss of tooth structure (enamel and dentine) caused by chronic acidic foods and drinks consumption. Sometimes conditions like regular acid reflux or bulimia will also result in dental erosion.

It is important to first determine the main cause of your teeth wear. Excessive attrition may be related to temporomandibular joint disorder (TMD).

Treatments for TMD related tooth wear may involve behavioral therapy, night splint use and myotherapy to ease muscle tension. Abrasion related wear needs to be identified as early as possible. Changing to a soft toothbrush and modifying brushing techniques can reduce further dentine wear.

For patients who consume a large quantity of acidic food and drinks, a dietary modification will be beneficial. Medical attention should be sought if you suspect acid reflux is at play.

Tooth wear only worsens over time particularly if the underlying cause is not diagnosed or treated. More complicated dental work may be required when extreme types of dental wear occur. They can require several root canal procedures and crowns or bridges to restore missing tooth volume. It’s much easier to recognise and avoid tooth wear than to treat it when it’s left too long.