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 night-time 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.