Contemporary diagnosis and management of dental erosion

Abstract

Objective This article is aimed at providing an overview of the topic of erosive tooth wear (ETW), highlighting the clinical signs, diagnosis, and management of dental erosion. Overview With the increased prevalence of ETW, it is important that oral health professionals are able to recognize the early signs. Early clinical signs of dental erosion are characterized by loss of enamel texture, a silky glossy appearance, and sometimes a dulling of the surface gloss, referred to as the “whipped clay effect, cupping, and restorations ‘standing proud’.” The progression of ETW should be monitored by means of diagnostic models or clinical photographs. ETW can be as a result of acid attack of extrinsic or intrinsic origin. Conclusion There is an increase of ETW that is being recognized by the profession. The first step in diagnosing and management is to recognize as early as possible that the process is occurring. At that point a determination of whether the primary etiology is either intrinsic or extrinsic should be made. If these findings are confirmed, appropriate prevention, and management strategies can be adopted followed by appropriate restorative therapy. Clinical Significance The prevalence of ETW continues to increase. It is therefore important that oral health care providers have a better understanding of the etiology, pathophysiology, and management of this condition. This review aims to provide the guidelines for diagnosis and management of dental erosion.

Evaluation of the effect of soft drinks on the surface roughness of dental enamel in natural human teeth

“…Changes in dietary habits, especially increased consumption of acidic food and drinks have been attributed to a steep increase in the prevalence of dental erosion over the years. 1 This article reinforces the fact that carbonated drinks can cause enamel erosion, especially when consumed for a prolonged period. Therefore, it is imperative that oral health care providers recognize the dietary pattern of their patients and give them sound oral care instructions.…”

Posterior minimally invasive full‐veneers: Effect of ceramic thicknesses, bonding substrate, and preparation designs on failure‐load and ‐mode after fatigue

“…Loss of dental hard tissue caused by wear and erosion increased significantly over the last years and fostered the development of defectoriented minimally invasive restorative treatment concepts. [1][2][3] In the anterior dentition, ceramic laminate veneers have proven to be a reliable, functional, and esthetic treatment option. 4 Occlusal veneers and onlays aim to replace the lost occlusal tooth substance in the posterior region.…”

Ultrastructural characterisation of young and aged dental enamel by atomic force microscopy

“…Furthermore, enamel in the younger specimen presented clearly demarcated HA crystals on the surface ( Figures 1E and 1F ), while the older specimen appeared to have less defined HA crystals with fewer variations in surface morphology as observed in height and amplitude images ( Figures 1G and 1H ). This observation could potentially be explained by the progressive changes that enamel undergoes during life due to chemical, bacterial, or mechanical factors that can alter its surface morphology 22,23 . Therefore, as enamel is a tissue that once deposited cannot be remodelled or regenerated, the cumulative effect of damage over the years results in surface modifications that can be observed with diverse microscopy approaches 24 .…”