Treating Tooth Wear
Understanding erosion, abrasion and attrition – protecting function and tooth structure
Tooth wear often develops slowly. Edges become shorter, surfaces smoother, teeth more sensitive or the bite changes. The causes may be mechanical, chemical or a combination of both.
Before rebuilding teeth, we therefore clarify which type of wear is present and whether active risk factors are still operating. Only then can we decide whether monitoring, protection, additive reconstruction or more extensive bite reconstruction is appropriate.
What is tooth wear?
Tooth wear is a loss of dental hard tissue that is not caused solely by caries. Depending on the cause, it may involve attrition from tooth-to-tooth contact, erosion from acids or abrasion from mechanical influences. Several factors often act together.
When treating tooth wear in Basel, we therefore first investigate the cause and assess whether function, vertical dimension or aesthetics have already been affected. Changes identified early can often be stabilised more conservatively than advanced tissue loss.
Common signs
Front teeth becoming shorter or flattened chewing surfaces.
Sensitivity in exposed or thin areas.
Chipping and recurrent small fractures.
Altered tooth shape or visible dentine surfaces.
Muscle overload or grinding as an accompanying factor.
Reconstructing conservatively
When rebuilding is necessary, additive composite build-ups, partial restorations or ceramic solutions may be used. The aim is to remove as little additional healthy tooth structure as possible.
When is bite raising considered?
With pronounced wear, additional space may be needed for reconstruction. A change in vertical dimension is not carried out routinely, but planned functionally and, where appropriate, evaluated during a test phase.
Further information
Preserve tooth structure. With tooth wear, we aim not for the largest possible intervention, but for a transparent and as conservative a solution as possible.
Note: This information is intended for general guidance and does not replace an individual examination and consultation.
