Eating; drinking; indulging in the occasional treat. All things that can cause wear on our teeth and create damage if left untreated.
Excessive tooth wear has several different causes and identifying the specific cause is crucial in choosing the correct treatment. It can happen rapidly due to one particular cause, or gradually over a longer period of time and go seemingly unnoticed. Drs. Mandy and Robert Shearer at Soddy Daisy Smiles are working to help patients understand worn teeth and properly identify the causes and select the best target treatment.
The biggest causes of tooth wear are erosion, the loss of tooth substance by chemical or acid dissolution, attrition, loss of tooth by grinding, and abrasion, tooth substance loss often caused by incorrect brushing or technique.
"There are a number of steps that can be taken to prevent teeth grinding," said Dr. Mandy. "If it is stress induced, patients can work to reduce stress in their lives."
Patients can also wear a night guard to help decrease the damage of the teeth rubbing together at night, and dentists also recommend reducing the acid in the diet or other systemic causes.
A Soddy Daisy Smiles patient shows how worn teeth can create problems, but thanks to the treatment she received, her smile is now back to its original glow."Sometimes a physical therapist or obtaining a prescription for muscle relaxants are used if the muscles are extremely tight and painful," Dr. Robert said. "In our office, I actually utilize Botox to help loosen tight muscles from excessive clenching/grinding."
If the the cause is thought to be from sleep apnea, Soddy Daisy Smiles recommends seeing the primary care physician for further follow up.
"We also recommend to not chew on pencils or pens or anything that is not food," Dr. Mandy said. "Avoid chewing gum as it allows the jaw muscles to get more used to clenching and making it more likely to grind teeth."
Results of excessive wear of teeth lead to tooth loss, worn and cracked teeth, and even loss in tooth length, which can alter how the jaw and teeth relate together. The biggest problem comes when tooth enamel is lost or damaged. Once that is worn through, the inner soft core of the tooth, the dentin, is exposed. Dr. Robert explained that dentin is where the nerve endings are located.
Once the dentin is exposed, wear proceeds approximately eight times more rapidly because the dentin is much softer than enamel.
"Worn teeth can also cause TMJ, which is a huge topic that can be a separate feature," said Dr. Mandy.
To fix the damage, the options depend on the severity of the loss of tooth structure. Each case is different. Options generally include composite and/or porcelain veneers for light to moderate wear.
"For more severe wear, a full coverage crown is often recommended to help restore the desired aesthetic appearance, yet needing to help strengthen the tooth from further damage," Dr. Robert said.
"We had a patient recently who had severely worn teeth due to bruxism and acid erosion," Dr. Mandy shared. "In her case, I used all porcelain crowns to restore the tooth height and shape, and she was very pleased with the results."
This particular patient's goal was to have the smile she used to have before all the damage, according to Dr. Mandy. She and Dr. Robert Shearer also have her wear a night guard to help protect her investment in her smile and ensure lasting results.
Tooth wear is a serious problem that should not be ignored. In any case of particularly excessive tooth wear, the key is proper diagnosis. Informing and educating people is much easier when they are able to recognize that a problem exists so that the correct treatment can be provided.
For more information on the causes of worn teeth, or to schedule an appointment, call Soddy-Daisy Smiles at 423-332-5275 to schedule an appointment or visit soddydaisysmiles.com.
Noteworthy:
"There are a number of steps that can be taken to prevent teeth grinding. If it is stress induced, patients can work to reduce stress in their lives." Dr. Mandy Shearer
MORE INFORMATION
For more information on the causes of worn teeth, or to schedule an appointment, call Soddy-Daisy Smiles at 423-332-5275 to schedule an appointment or visit soddydaisysmiles.com.