Tooth Wear Treatment

Tooth wear is a common condition which results in the loss of healthy tooth structure not caused by tooth decay or trauma.

In its severest form, it can cause:

• Sharp, broken, jagged or chipped teeth
• Sensitivity caused by the loss of enamel. This is often to cold and sweet foods.
• Deteriorating appearance of the smile due to short, chipped teeth
• Shortening of the teeth resulting in teeth which are not visible when smiling
• Staining of the teeth as exposed dentine picks up
• Bite changes and overclosure of the jaw
• Nerve exposure resulting in sensitivity or pain

When tooth wear becomes advance or it starts causing visible symptoms, treatment is often required to prevent further shortening of the teeth, improve the appearance of the teeth and to relieve sensitivity.

Why seek help?

Many of our patients seek help:

• when they start noticing that their teeth are getting shorter
• when they have been advised that they grind their teeth, often unconsciously during sleep
• when they have been diagnosed with gastric reflux (GORD – gastro-oesophageal reflux disease)
• if they have been a sufferer from an eating disorders e.g. bulimia or anorexia nervosa
• when they have widespread sensitivity

What treatments are available at Windsor Dentists?

Mild cases

Mild cases can sometimes be managed with a custom night guard to prevent further wear, changes to habits, and long term monitoring. Some very mild cases require no active treatment.

Moderate to Severe Cases

Reconstruction of your teeth may be required when tooth wear is more advance and tooth shortening has occurred. Buildups of the teeth may be completed in minimally invasive composite resin or porcelain, depending on the circumstances.

At Windsor Dentists, we follow the Radboud philosphy on reconstructing worn dentitions, an evidence based and conservative protocol developed by the Netherland’s Radboud University Medical Center.

References/Sources

Loomans B, Opdam N. A guide to managing tooth wear: the Radboud philosophy. Br Dent J. 2018 Mar 9;224(5):348-356. doi: 10.1038/sj.bdj.2018.164. Epub 2018 Mar 2. PMID: 29495023. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/29495023/

Radboud University Medical Center https://www.radboudumc.nl/en/news/2018/clinical-performance-of-full-rehabilitations