Table of Contents
What is the cause of abfraction?
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.
How do you treat abfraction?
Abfraction doesn’t always require treatment, but it’s important to see your dentist to be sure….Some treatment options are:
- Fillings. This can be helpful if it’s getting hard to keep your teeth clean or if you have tooth sensitivity due to exposed nerve endings.
- Mouthguard.
- Toothpaste.
- Orthodontics.
How do you prevent abfractions?
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.
Do you restore abfraction?
There are no generally accepted, specific guidelines in the literature stating when abfraction lesions should be restored.
What is an 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.
What is the difference between abfraction and abrasion?
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.
What is an abfraction lesion?
Abfraction is a theoretical concept explaining a loss of tooth structure not caused by tooth decay (non-carious cervical lesions).
How do you tell the difference between abrasion and abfraction?
What does abfraction mean?
Abfraction is a form of non-carious tooth tissue loss that occurs along the gingival margin. In other words, abfraction is a mechanical loss of tooth structure that is not caused by tooth decay, located along the gum line.
Is abfraction common?
Abfraction lesions are fairly common in adults. Older adults are especially likely to have them. They occur more often in the back teeth, called premolars and molars.
What is the difference between abrasion and abfraction?
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.
Does abfraction get worse?
They won’t “heal,” and they may not worsen or become larger over time. In severe cases, or if you are disturbed by the look of abfraction lesions, they can be filled with a cosmetic compound so they are not visible.
What is a tooth abfraction?
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).
What are three things that can cause abrasion?
Three agents of physical weathering that can cause abrasion are moving water, wind and gravity.
What are the symptoms of abrasion?
You may have pain, redness, rash, swelling, or bleeding where the skin is rubbed off. Dirt or gravel may get into the wound.