Treating Worn Down Teeth
It is natural for your teeth to show some everyday wear and tear. It is a sign of ageing. Worn down teeth can have a negative impact on your self-esteem as they can become smaller, darker in color, and even affect your bite. Attrition, abrasion, and erosion all contribute towards worn teeth.
Worn down teeth are common in older people. Some teeth wear is a side effect of ageing, but other factors such as aggressive brushing, teeth grinding, and consuming acidic food and drinks will make it worse.
Symptoms of Worn-Down Teeth
There are many symptoms of worn-down teeth including:
- Changes in the appearance
- Increased tooth sensitivity
- Loss of protective enamel
- Chipping
- Translucent teeth
- Worn down teeth can be prevented and treated once the specific cause is identified.
Causes of Worn-Down Teeth
There are usually four types of tooth erosion:
- Friction- This erosion happens from biting your teeth together or grinding your teeth, either during the day or more commonly at night while you sleep.
- Wear and tear- This can be the result of abuse, such as opening bottles or plastic bags with your teeth or by aggressive brushing and cleaning.
- Tooth stress- Stresses on your teeth will cause them to flex slightly and lead to more erosion.
- Chemical attack- This can either be from outside of your body, like acids in your diet or medications, or from inside your body, like acid reflux.
Solutions to Repair Worn Down Teeth
Treating worn down teeth can be relatively simple. The first step of repairing the erosion is to identify the cause. Dietary advice might be directed by your dental hygienist, or your dentist might make a night guard to protect your teeth from nighttime grinding.
After the primary cause has been identified and the erosion stopped then the solution can be chosen to repair the past erosion.
Several different dental treatments have been developed to treat worn down teeth, including:
- Dental crowns- A quite common treatment for worn down teeth. The procedure will take several appointments and involves placing caps over worn down or damaged teeth.
- Dental bonding- The treatment involves using a tooth-colored, putty-like, composite material to cover any imperfections. This material is applied, shaped, and sculpted to the teeth to cover worn down edges or discolorations.
- Veneers- Porcelain or ceramic veneers help restore the aesthetic look, function, and feel of your teeth. The procedure involves placing a wafer-thin piece of porcelain over the front of the teeth and is mostly used to repair the front of the teeth to improve the visual appearance.
In addition, your dentist can create customized mouth guards to improve teeth grinding or an appliance which will help to realign your bite.
Further Complications of Leaving Worn Down Teeth Untreated
If your worn-down teeth are left untreated it can quickly lead to further deterioration as well as an assortment of other long-term issues including:
- Tooth sensitivity from the lack of enamel exposing the softer dentine.
- More susceptible to infections.
- Larger problems with tooth restoration.
- Developing issues with dental fillings.