Tooth wear is one of the most prevalent dental conditions that we see in practice day to day. It would not be an exaggeration to say that almost 90% of adult patients suffer from some form of tooth wear albeit to varying degree of severity. Minor tooth wear can lead to issues such as sensitivity to hot and cold whereas severe tooth wear can impair everyday function of chewing and mastication. Severe tooth surface loss will also cause a reduction in the occlusal vertical dimension (OVD) which is a measurement from under the nose to the chin. This will lead to a change in the shape of ones facial structure which is not desirable. The good news is that there are a number of treatments available that are minimally invasive, pain free and far less costly than traditional methods of reconstruction.
 

Do you know what the one of the most common dental problems is in the United Kingdom? It's not cavities or gum disease. It's tooth wear! Tooth wear can be caused by a number of factors including acid erosion, bruxism (teeth grinding at night ), and poor oral hygiene. In this blog post, we will discuss the causes, treatment, cost, and prevention of tooth wear. We will also answer some common questions about this condition. If you have tooth wear, you must simply read this article.
 

Our case of the month for November 2021 was a classic tooth bonding case involving severe tooth wear. Tooth wear is an increasing problem with grinding at night becoming an ever increasing problem coupled with acid in the diet. The combination of these two factors can lead to the softening and dissolving enamel leading to thin edges, chipping, fractures and exposure of the underlying dentine which can be very sensitive. 

The beauty of cosmetic bonding is that we can treat the wear, protect the teeth and improve the aesthetics in one visit. We do not need to cut the teeth down at all, there is no need for any needle, the procedure is pain free and easy to maintain.
 

Our case of the month for November involves a re-construction of the bite over a number of years. The main reason for treatment was due to severe tooth wear due to bruxism. Bruxism is essentially grinding at night to such an extent that the enamel is worn over a number of years. This can cause a number of problems such as:
 

• Tooth sensitivity
• Difficulty in eating
• Lack of a coherent bite
• Aesthetic issues
• Pain leading to root canal treatment in severe cases

Tooth wear, on the whole, can be prevented or at least treated with relative ease in the early stages. However, severe tooth wear is a complex subject and requires a dedicated and staged treatment process. Here is a smiling view of our patient before any treatment: