Wear and Erosion | Smith and Van Lierop Dentistry

Why are your teeth wearing away?

Dental erosion or tooth wear is the loss of tooth enamel caused by acids in the mouth or grinding of your teeth. Tooth erosion not only affects the aesthetic appearance of teeth but also results in dental complications such as tooth hypersensitivity and gradual erosion of the affected teeth.

There are three main types
of tooth surface loss

Attrition

Tooth wear caused by the top and bottom teeth wearing against one another. This can happen in people who develop a habit of grinding their teeth during the day or night (bruxists), or sometimes if the teeth come together in an unfavourable ‘bite’.

Abrasion

Tooth wear caused by something repeatedly rubbing against the tooth. The most common cause of this is over enthusiastic tooth brushing with a damaging technique.

Erosion

Tooth wear caused by acids. The acids can come from the digestive system, either perhaps due to repeated vomiting or if someone suffers with acid reﬂux. Acids can also be in the foods and drinks that we consume, such as ﬁzzy drinks and citrus fruits.

If you experience any of the following symptoms, you might have tooth wear

Increased tooth sensitivity
Changes in the appearance of the teeth
Teeth seem to be getting shorter
Teeth tend to chip more frequently
Teeth appear more translucent
Teeth generally look worn down

The process of building naturally healthy smiles

Building a health smile is a complex treatment that needs meticulous planning. Following these 5 steps, our team of special qualified dentists will build a customised treatment plan that will help you achieve the result you want. Using advanced dentistry procedures to restore broken smiles, the way nature intended.

Treatment can include

Direct bonding

of tooth coloured composite resin to the teeth is a great option for the treatment of early erosion. It can give a stable end result that looks and feels just like your own teeth use to. It is a simple and cost effective treatment that gives stability and prevents further damage.

Ceramics

can be used in advanced cases where larger amounts of tooth structure is lost and more support is needed. These are strong porcelain restorations that can restore shape and function and give strong, lasting results.

Orthodontics

can be useful in positioning the teeth in the ideal position for long term success. By helping to place the teeth in a more ideal functional and aesthetic position, there is a much better chance of preventing future damage