What are dental Abfractions?

Dental abfractions are v-shaped notches that appear near the gingival margin. These lesions are not caused by decay. Rather, they are the result of certain dental conditions, such as bruxism (teeth grinding).

Can tooth abfractions be fixed?

Once an abfraction lesion develops, the damage cannot be reversed. However, there are treatments that can smooth and enhance the tooth's appearance, reduce dental sensitivity, and help prevent further damage.

What causes abfractions on teeth?

Abfraction is caused by stress and pressure applied to the teeth through biting, chewing, clenching the teeth, and most commonly, teeth grinding. These forces put great stress on the teeth near the gum line, where the enamel and cementum of the teeth meet.

Are abfractions painful?

Abfraction is usually painless, but tooth sensitivity can become a problem, especially where heat and cold are concerned. You may never develop other signs or symptoms, but if the damage continues, it could lead to: worn and shiny facets on the tooth, known as translucency. chipping of the tooth surface.

What is the definition of abfraction?

Abfraction (AF) is the pathological loss of tooth substance caused by biomechanical loading forces that result in flexure and failure of enamel and dentin at a location away from the loading.

Tooth erosion, abfraction, attrition and other dental wear ©

Are tooth abfractions common?

Dental abfractions are actually among the most common of all dental problems. They are the notches that occur in the teeth at the gum line.

How do you treat abfraction teeth?

To treat a dental abfraction, the lesion is filled, much like a cavity. Your dentist will apply composite resin material to the affected area before shaping it and curing it with a special dental light. Finally, the tooth will be smoothed and polished to a natural-looking shine.

Should abfractions be filled?

Abfractions, however, can cause a healthy tooth to lose some of its strength and, in rare cases, may cause a tooth to break. In those situations, it may be wise to reinforce the tooth with a filling compound. This can be done easily, and often does not require any drilling.

When do you treat abfraction?

Treatments for Abfraction

If left untreated, abfraction lesions can lead to tooth decay, root canal infections, and tooth loss. Treating abfraction as early as possible is essential for protecting your oral health.

Do you restore abfraction?

There are no generally accepted, specific guidelines in the literature stating when abfraction lesions should be restored.

Can flossing cause abfraction?

In other words, it's the act of brushing and flossing our teeth that's the primary cause of abfraction. Biting, chewing, and bruxism is then a secondary factor. There is some connection between both of these causes, and perhaps the exact nature of abfraction will be up for less debate in the future.

How can dental Abfraction be prevented?

If teeth grinding causes your abfractions, your dentist may fit you with a mouthguard to protect your teeth while you sleep. Orthodontics can also help prevent further abfraction lesions by realigning your bite and taking pressure off of certain areas of your mouth that may be prone to the damage.

How do you tell the difference between abrasion and abfraction?

An abfraction is an angular notch at the gumline caused by bending forces applied to the tooth. An abrasion is a rounded notch at the gumline that may be visibly indestinguishable from an abfraction, although in cross-section abrasions are generally not as angular and have more of a saucered appearance.

How long do gum line fillings last?

Glass Ionomer Fillings

These are most commonly used for filling tiny cavities at the gum line or for baby teeth. Glass ionomer fillings typically last for 30-42 months or up to 5 years.

How do you treat attrition?

Depending on the cause of dental attrition, there are various treatment options. Most commonly, dental attrition treatment will involve a combination of orthodontic treatment to fix tooth alignment (e.g. Invisalign), dental restorations to fix damaged teeth, and treatment for bruxism (e.g. wearing a night guard).

What causes tooth notching?

Dental abfractions are notches that form by the gum line, and gradually deepen over time. These notches are a result of excessive pressure and force. The enamel by the gum line tends to be softer, which is why the notches form on this area of the tooth.

What does tooth abrasion look like?

Abrasion typically looks like a wedge or V-shaped indentation of the tooth at the gum margin, and it appears worn, shiny and is often discolored at the cervical margin.

What is the difference between attrition and abrasion in dental?

Dental attrition is caused by tooth to tooth contact forming acquired wear facets upon pristine enamel, whereas abrasion is caused by food and foreign body contact (e.g., tooth brushing) that may obliterate attrition wear patterns.

What is attrition and abrasion?

Abrasion occurs as a result of two surfaces rubbing against each other resulting in the wearing down of one or both of the surfaces. However, attrition refers to the breaking off of particles (erosion) which occurs as a result of objects hitting against each other.

When should I restore NCCL?

RESTORATIVE CARE

If the lesions are esthetically displeasing, become detrimental to pulp health, or if the patient experiences dentinal hypersensitivity, NCCLs should be restored.

Can you Overfloss?

It's not just how often you floss that causes damage, though. Flossing too vigorously or applying too much pressure on the gums can cause the gums to bleed. Eventually, over-flossing can destroy the gum line. This exposes more of the teeth's root, which eventually causes decay and cavities.

Can you floss too deep?

With hard flossing over time, your gums will begin to recede. Once this happens, you'll start to experience tooth pain due to the areas of the tooth being exposed can have thin enamel. With extreme cases, the root of the tooth can be exposed causing even further tooth pain.

How do you stop tooth decay at gum line?

What causes external root resorption?

External resorption is often caused by injuries to the mouth and teeth that cause swelling and loss of bone and tissue on and around a tooth. Such injuries may occur from prolonged use of orthodontic appliances such as braces, or from tooth grinding or tooth bleaching.

What happens if tooth resorption is left untreated?

Internal inflammatory root resorption (IIRR) is a rare condition of the root canal and if it is left untreated it may lead to destruction of the surrounding dental hard tissues. Odontoclasts are responsible for this situation which can potentially perforate the root.