Tooth Wear
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Worn teeth become smaller, darker and chip, which can have a huge impact on self-esteem and prevent you wanting to smile. At Cwmbran Dental Care, we can help prevent and treat excessive tooth wear.
There are several types of wear including:
Attrition
This is where a tooth wears against another tooth, usually the back teeth. It happens gradually as we age, but there can be an excessive grinding and clenching habit, called ‘bruxism’, which can happen at any age.
Abrasion
Abrasion is where the teeth are worn down by an external object, such as excessive use of a hard toothbrush, biting fingernails or even by holding dressmaking pins between the teeth.
Erosion
It is caused by acids consumed in food or fizzy drinks and fruit juices. Acids coming up from your stomach in common conditions such as heartburn, regurgitation and pregnancy can damage teeth. These acids dissolve away the enamel outer coating to teeth. Erosion can accelerate tooth wear when combined with either attrition or abrasion.
If worn teeth are left untreated, further deterioration and long-term issues result, which become harder to fix.
The team at Cwmbran Dental Care first try to establish the cause of your wear. At your regular check-ups we look for signs of tooth wear, ask you about your intake of acids and monitor any early signs of wear. The good news is that our dentists can then help repair your damaged teeth, restoring function and giving you your smile back.
There are a number of different treatments and techniques that we can carry out for you:
Fluoride Application
Fluoride strengthens teeth, to make them more resistant to wear. It can be applied as a gel, varnish or paste. We can make a mouth guard to carry the fluoride to prevent it from being washed away.
Composite Bonding
This involves applying a tooth coloured composite material to cover the worn surfaces and restore the shape of the teeth. This is the most minimally invasive way to repair the teeth.
Veneers
This involves placing a thin piece of porcelain or composite over the front and edge of the teeth. This procedure is mostly used to restore front teeth.
Crowns
When the damage is severe, crowns or ‘caps’ are placed over the damaged teeth and can be bonded to help improve retention.
Customised Mouthguards
When damage to teeth has been caused by tooth grinding or ‘bruxism’, a mouthguard worn at night can prevent further damage to the teeth or new restorations.
