How does tooth wear develop?
- Grinding and clenching (bruxism): often unconscious, at night or under stress; the forces grind away the enamel and strain the jaw joint and muscles
- Dental erosion: acids from soft drinks, juices, wine or stomach acid dissolve the enamel
- Mechanical wear: brushing too hard or abrasive habits
Often several causes play a part at the same time. Because enamel does not grow back, it is important to recognise wear early and to stop the process.
Signs to take seriously
- Teeth that visibly become shorter, flatter or more translucent
- Sensitivity to cold, heat or sweet things
- Tired or painful jaw muscles, jaw joint complaints, a headache on waking
- Crumbling edges or small cracks in teeth and fillings
How do we treat wear and bite problems?
We start with an analysis of the cause: the wear pattern, your bite, your habits and your diet. Depending on this, treatment consists of protecting the teeth with a custom-made occlusal splint (night guard) against nightly grinding, advice to stop erosion, and where needed restoration of the lost tooth structure with composite.
With advanced wear, where the bite height has collapsed, a reconstructive approach may be needed to fully restore function and appearance.
Not sure whether your complaints are related to grinding or wear? We assess this as a matter of course during the periodic check-up.