Treating Worn Down Teeth
As people age, all their body’s systems undergo wear and tear, and this includes the teeth. It’s common for a person’s teeth to wear down as they withstand the everyday forces of biting and chewing over the years, and in many cases, this effect of aging isn’t significant enough to be notable or require treatment. Sometimes, however, a person’s teeth grow visibly smaller as they bear life’s pressures, and they can even change enough to affect the correctness of the bite. This can occur because of abrasion, attrition, and erosion. Abrasion causes the teeth to wear down because their enamel surface is rubbed off by the friction of overly aggressive brushing or another mechanical force. Attrition occurs when the force of the teeth against each other causes certain teeth to wear down abnormally; the most common cause of attrition of the teeth is the condition of habitually grinding or clenching the teeth, known as bruxism. Erosion occurs when acid eats away at the teeth, which can happen because of dietary choices or because of a proliferation of gastric acids in the mouth. The cause of worn teeth will affect the treatment choices, which primarily include dental crowns, veneers, and bonding.
If you’re not concerned with your appearance, you may think it’s okay to leave your worn down teeth untreated, but the complications of this choice can be more than merely cosmetic. As pathological wear on the teeth progresses, destruction accelerates and can lead to tooth sensitivity and pain, excessive challenges in restoration, problems with dental fillings, and even infection. If your teeth are worn down because of an external condition like bruxism or gastrointestinal reflux, your dentist will work with you to address the root causes of tooth wear and prevent them from recurring once restorations are in place. Once the treatment can be expected to be successful, restoration can commence.
Dental crowns are the most common treatment for worn teeth. For dental crown treatment, a dental professional will prepare the affected teeth by grinding down their structure so that they can properly accommodate crowns, artificial teeth that cap the existing tooth and provide a protective outer layer. In composite resin bonding treatment, the dentist uses a composite material that is tinted the same color as the teeth to cover over imperfections. This composite material can often be used on the edges of teeth to build up worn down areas. Dental veneers rely on thin layers of porcelain that are bonded to the fronts of the teeth. While durable, dental veneers rely on existing dental tissue to support them, and when the teeth are worn down significantly, they’re unlikely to be a good option; they’re simply not strong enough to support the forces of biting and chewing on their own.
Whichever treatment option you and your dentist decide on, part of any successful treatment for worn down teeth must include treatment of the larger cause of excess wear on the teeth. If you have bruxism, your dentist will give you a mouthguard to wear while you sleep, and you may want to try stress-reduction and relaxation techniques. Because most treatment options for worn down teeth are considered cosmetic procedures, they’re not usually covered by dental insurance, and protecting your dental restorations from further wear should be considered an integral part of your investment in your smile.