Can a Dentist in Phoenix Help With Attrition?

by | Aug 4, 2015 | Dental Services

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There are situations where the physiological wear of teeth is increased. This is where a Dentist in Phoenix will talk about attrition or the pathological wear of teeth. One of the causes of this issue is bruxism, commonly known as clenching of the teeth. This can be either voluntarily or involuntarily during certain stages of sleep, but can also happen due to malocclusions, psychological factors, etc. Sometimes there is a slight association with xerostomia that may cause the attrition to get worse because the loss of saliva means the mouth’s lubricant can’t protect teeth like it normally would.

As with all civilizations, the teeth are used constantly for things other than chewing food. For instance, people in India chew tobacco wrapped in a mixture of quicklime and sand, the latter being the component which makes tooth wear inevitable. Similarly, Eskimo women eat the pickled skin of animals they hunt, which ends up causing heavy wear on the anterior sides of their teeth. Injuries that occur on teeth are usually limited to the occlusal, incisor, lingual (upper front teeth), and inter proximal surfaces.

Little by little this process accentuates the loss of a tooth. As dentin has a lower hardness than occlusal surfaces, especially when it comes to the lower molars, tooth sensitivity and possible loss are possibilities. The hard tissues then react to this destructive process through the dental tubules (called tubular hyper-calcification). Thus, the size of the pulp chamber and root canals is reduced, but could severely hinder or even cause endodontic treatment. If such continuous wear goes on without remedy, issues like pulpitis or pulp exposure will come about. You can click here to get more details.

The treatment of this disease should always be etiologic, with the elimination of bad habits or having the Dentist in Phoenix design an occlusal splint to eliminate bruxism or at least protect teeth from the effects immediately. The dentist can use adhesive materials on the occlusal surfaces of the affected teeth in an attempt to eliminate or reduce dentin hyperesthesia that will lead to complete failure. Visit a dentist who will make a correct diagnosis so treatment will begin as quickly as possible. Contact Guaranteed Dental Solutions for more information.