Dental abrasion is the gradual wearing away of a tooth's surface by friction from something other than another tooth. The substances responsible are called abrasives, and they are usually not part of a normal diet. How abrasion looks depends on what caused it, and how quickly it progresses depends on three things: how often the abrasive is used, how much force is applied, and how hard the material is.
What causes it: most cases we see come down to brushing technique or a toothpaste that is more abrasive than it needs to be. The damage usually shows on the outward-facing surfaces of the canines and premolars, and sometimes the upper first molars — the pattern you get from brushing hard in a horizontal scrubbing motion. Learning the right technique is the single most useful thing you can do about it.
Furthermore, other forms of abrasion may arise due to habits like chewing sunflower seeds or pumpkin seeds. In such cases, injuries are commonly noticed at the edges of one or both upper incisors and their opposing lower counterparts. Smokers who habitually hold nozzles and pipes between their teeth are also susceptible to a specific form of abrasion.
Abrasion is also sometimes deliberate. Cosmetic reshaping of the front teeth — filing the edges to produce a particular shape — is a form of abrasion carried out on purpose.
How we treat abrasion at Hudson Dental
Treatment has two parts, and the first matters more than the second: stop whatever is causing the wear, then repair the damage. Dr. Panesar restores most abrasion with minimally invasive adhesive techniques, which preserve as much of the natural tooth as possible. Where the wear is more advanced, a crown or a porcelain veneer may be the better option.
Achieve optimal oral health at Hudson Dental, conveniently located at 14010 127 St in the heart of Edmonton.
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