Teeth worn on chewing surfaces: Causes and solutions

The article was professionally consulted by Doctor of Dentistry - Jaw - Face - Department of Medical Examination & Internal Medicine - Vinmec Hai Phong International General Hospital.

Tooth wear on the chewing surface is a condition in which the enamel layer on the chewing surface of the tooth is worn away. There are many causes of wear and tear on the chewing surfaces of teeth. To overcome the situation of worn teeth, you can choose a filling or a porcelain crown depending on the degree of enamel wear.

Dental wear is a condition in which the chewing surface of the tooth - the top of the tooth - is worn away due to loss of tooth tissue. Depending on the extent of enamel wear, it will create shallow or deep indentations on the chewing surface of the teeth and the degree of sensitivity when chewing.
The degree of wear of the occlusal surface of the teeth is classified from mild to severe, specifically, when the wear occurs only in the enamel, it is mild and when the wear occurs in the dentin, it is severe.

The basic structure of teeth from outside to inside includes enamel, dentin and pulp. The hard outer enamel layer is responsible for protecting the dentin and the inner pulp, which are vulnerable parts.
When the teeth are worn on the chewing surface, that is, the enamel layer of the teeth is worn away, causing inconveniences in eating and living such as:
Aesthetics: When the enamel is worn down, the teeth will be yellow-brown. Sensitivity: When in contact with acidic foods, or foods that are too hot or cold, a very uncomfortable sensitivity will occur due to the erosion of the enamel layer, making the teeth more sensitive. Injury to the jaw joint: When the teeth wear down the chewing surface, the enamel layer has been permanently lost and cannot regenerate itself, which will reduce the ability to chew and crush food. This condition, if left untreated for a long time, will cause chewing muscles, jaw joints to work more and cause muscle spasms and joint damage. Tooth decay: When the enamel layer of the tooth is worn away and the dentin is exposed, tooth decay is very likely to occur, especially when eating a lot of high-acid foods. Pulpitis, tooth loss: Severely worn teeth can damage the pulp and lead to pulpitis, death of the tooth pulp.

Most cases of tooth wear on chewing surfaces are caused by mechanical factors such as:
Improper brushing: Brushing horizontally and too hard will wear down and lose the outer enamel layer. Regular use of some foods containing high acid: Sweets, carbonated water, high acidic fruits such as oranges, lemons, grapefruits, ... if used regularly, it will also wear down tooth enamel. Gastroesophageal reflux disease: Acid reflux increases the exposure of teeth to acid and leads to erosion of the chewing surface of the teeth. Dry mouth disease: Dry mouth is a condition in which the salivary glands are less secreted, so when eating, the acid from food will stay on the teeth longer and lead to enamel erosion. Habits: Frequent biting, chewing food too hard, eating hard foods, biting nails, grinding teeth while sleeping, ... are bad habits that wear down or even break tooth enamel. Genetics, local factors: Teeth with worn chewing surfaces can also be due to genetics or locality, weak enamel, easily broken and worn. In addition, the wear of the chewing surface of the teeth can also be a disease caused by hypoplasia of enamel, or other diseases such as jaw joint pain that affects chewing and rubbing between the two teeth, ...

Depending on the severity of the tooth wear on the chewing surface, there will be a suitable remedy and treatment. With mild enamel damage that has not yet affected the teeth, the teeth are not sensitive and the patient does not feel sensitivity when chewing, treatment may not be necessary.
When enamel damage is severe into dentin decay and can affect the pulp, a number of methods are used to repair teeth with worn chewing surfaces such as:
Fillings: There are many different filling materials, depending on Injury, the dentist will choose the right material to fill the dents and defects on the chewing surface of the teeth. Filling is a popular method, easy to carry out, fast implementation time, low cost without affecting teeth. However, this is only a temporary solution as the filling can peel and discolor. After a while, or when chewing too hard makes the filling come off, the patient needs to fill the tooth again. Porcelain paste: For the case where the front teeth are worn on the chewing surface and are very sensitive when eating, porcelain paste is the method of choice because it is suitable for the arch of the tooth, limiting tooth wear and especially having high aesthetics. In addition, porcelain veneers also work to lengthen the crown of the tooth. However, this method is not suitable for teeth with misaligned bite or many misaligned teeth.

Porcelain crowns: Porcelain veneers are an effective and sustainable way to overcome worn teeth on the chewing surface because the teeth are covered by a porcelain layer that coincides with the crown mold, helping to protect the dentin and the pulp inside. Porcelain crowns also minimize enamel wear but still support the chewing function of teeth. For cases where the dentin has been exposed and the teeth are severely and prolonged sensitive, porcelain crowns are a way to protect and limit the effects as well as external bacteria that damage the teeth. Compared to fillings, porcelain crowns are an aesthetic and high-cost method. In cases where the tooth is badly worn on the chewing surface and has affected the pulp, the patient may have to undergo root canal treatment or remove the worn tooth.

To prevent and limit the wear of the chewing surface of the teeth, it is necessary to note the following ways:
Brush teeth properly with a soft brush, toothpaste containing fluoride. Brush your teeth at least twice a day, in the morning when you wake up and in the evening before you go to bed. Do not use the toothbrush to rub the tooth surface, do not brush too hard. Use a fluoride mouthwash and floss instead of toothpicks. Limit the acid that sticks and stays on the teeth to wear down the chewing surface of the teeth by rinsing your mouth after eating acidic foods, drinking water between meals. Limit intake of sweets and foods with high acidity. After eating or chewing acidic foods, do not brush your teeth immediately, but wait about 30 minutes for the saliva in the mouth to neutralize the acid on the enamel. People with dry mouth can chew gum to increase saliva production and help neutralize acids on the tooth surface. Tooth wear on the chewing surface is quite common in people who regularly use foods containing a lot of acid. To overcome this situation, patients can go to dental facilities to check and fill teeth or porcelain crowns of worn teeth.
Department of Dentistry - Maxillofacial - Facial at Vinmec International General Hospital is one of the major and important sub-disciplines of the clinical block. Is a specialty in charge of intensive and aesthetic pathological treatment of the entire tooth structure (teeth, bone, pulp,...), jaw (palatine, jawline, jaw joint, ...) and face (frontal bone, cheekbone, temporal bone,...).

Therefore, you should choose to visit the Odonto-Stomatology Specialist - Vinmec International General Hospital with advantages such as:
Simple and quick procedure. Enthusiastic advice and support, reasonable and convenient examination process. Comprehensive facilities, including a system of clinics and consultations, blood collection room, dining room, waiting area for customers... The medical staff has high professional qualifications, style. In addition, at Vinmec, many convenient medical services are deployed, bringing many conveniences to customers. For direct consultation, please contact or register online.