Tooth wear
Tooth wear occurs when tooth tissue is lost for reasons other than caries, i.e. cavities or tooth decay. A certain degree of wear is part of getting older and happens to everyone. Sometimes, however, wear progresses faster than normal. We then speak of pathological tooth wear.
At Loef Mondzorg in Rotterdam, we investigate what is causing your teeth and molars to wear and what consequences this has for your teeth. This allows us to limit further damage and, if necessary, restore worn teeth.
What is tooth wear?
Tooth wear is the loss of tooth tissue due to friction, pressure or acids. As a result, teeth and molars slowly become shorter, thinner or more sensitive. At first you often notice little, but as wear increases, complaints can develop.
Normal wear develops gradually through daily use of the teeth. When teeth and molars wear faster than expected, it is important to find out the cause. The sooner we recognise tooth wear, the better we can prevent further damage.
What does wear of the teeth mean?
Wear of the teeth means that the enamel or underlying tooth tissue slowly disappears. This can make teeth shorter, more sensitive or change their shape.
Many people only notice wear when teeth become flatter, edges chip or molars react more sensitively to cold, heat or sweet things. Tooth wear can also affect the way you chew and the appearance of your smile.
What are the consequences of tooth wear?
Tooth wear can affect the function, health and appearance of your teeth. When teeth or molars become shorter, your bite can change and chewing problems can develop.
Sensitivity can also occur because the protective enamel layer becomes thinner or disappears. With advanced wear, toothache can even develop because the nerve in the tooth or molar becomes irritated or inflamed. Wear can also be visible aesthetically, for example because teeth look shorter, more yellow or more uneven.
What causes wear of the teeth?
Wear of the teeth is usually caused by friction, pressure or acids. Often several causes play a role at the same time. Common causes are:
- Teeth grinding or jaw clenching
- Chewing on pens, nails or other objects
- Brushing too hard or using the wrong brushing technique
- Lots of acidic drinks, such as soft drinks, sports drinks or lemon tea
- Wear from daily use of the teeth
Wear caused by friction is called attrition or abrasion. Wear caused by acids is called erosion. During the examination, we look at which form plays a role for you.
How do you recognise tooth wear?
You can often recognise tooth wear by shorter teeth, sensitive teeth or visible changes in the shape of your teeth. Sometimes teeth become flatter, thinner or more translucent at the edges. Possible signs of tooth wear are:
- Teeth or molars becoming shorter
- Teeth sensitive to cold, heat or sweet things
- Sharp or chipped tooth edges
- Yellow discolouration due to thinner enamel
- Pain when chewing
- Visible wear facets on teeth or molars
Because wear develops slowly, it is not always immediately visible to you. During a check-up, we can often recognise early wear sooner.
Can wear of the teeth be repaired?
Wear of the teeth cannot repair itself, because lost enamel does not come back. However, we can try to prevent further wear and restore lost tooth tissue with restorative material.
With mild wear, we mainly focus on protection and prevention. With advanced wear, we can restore teeth and molars with tooth-coloured material, crowns or other restorative solutions. Which treatment is suitable depends on the severity, cause and consequences of the wear.
How does Loef Mondzorg examine tooth wear?
At Loef Mondzorg we start with a thorough examination of the cause and severity of the tooth wear. We ask about your habits, diet, any pain and possible causes such as teeth grinding or jaw clenching.
We then inspect your face, oral cavity and teeth. If necessary, we make and analyse digital dental models, colour photos and X-rays, so we can carefully record the current situation. We can also assess the degree of wear and estimate the risk of further wear.
Based on this examination, we decide which treatment or guidance best suits your teeth.
How do we treat tooth wear?
The treatment of tooth wear depends on the severity and cause of the wear. With limited wear, we mainly help you prevent further damage. We give advice on:
- Reducing acidic food and drinks
- Improving your brushing technique
- Breaking harmful habits
- Protection against teeth grinding or jaw clenching
- Monitoring further wear over time
If a lot of tooth tissue has already been lost, we can restore the teeth with restorative material. This improves the shape, function and appearance of the teeth.
What does restorative treatment for tooth wear involve?
Restorative treatment for tooth wear means that we add to or restore lost tooth tissue. This can be done with tooth-coloured material applied directly in the mouth.
For more extensive wear, we can work with a dental technician. Teeth and molars are then prepared outside the mouth and firmly attached in the mouth afterwards. If the wear was caused by teeth grinding or jaw clenching, we often make a protective splint after the restorative treatment. You usually wear it at night to limit new wear.
What can you do yourself about tooth wear?
You can limit tooth wear by protecting your teeth well against acids, friction and overloading. Small daily habits make a big difference. We advise you to:
- Drink fewer acidic drinks, such as soft drinks and lemon tea
- Not brush immediately after eating or drinking something acidic
- Use a soft toothbrush
- Not brush too hard
- Break the habit of nail biting and chewing on pens
- Not use your teeth as a tool
- Discuss complaints caused by grinding or clenching
By tackling wear early, you can often prevent the need for more extensive treatment.
Suffering from tooth wear in Rotterdam? Make an appointment at Loef Mondzorg!
Do you notice that your teeth are becoming shorter, more sensitive or thinner? At Loef Mondzorg in Rotterdam, we investigate the cause of your tooth wear and advise you on the best approach.
Make an appointment for a consultation today or contact us for more information. Call us directly or register online first so you can then schedule an appointment.
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Getting here
Our dental practice at Weena 91 is easy to reach, right in the centre of Rotterdam and within walking distance of Rotterdam Central Station. Thanks to this central location, the practice is easily accessible by public transport: several train, metro, tram and bus lines stop close to the Weena, including metro lines B, D and E. From Rotterdam Central Station you will be at the practice within a few minutes, making it ideal for residents of Rotterdam as well as patients from surrounding towns.
The practice is also easy to reach by car via the main roads into the city centre, with parking facilities nearby. This means Loef Mondzorg combines a central location with excellent accessibility, both by public transport and by car.
Rotterdam City Centre location
- Weena 91, 3013 CH Rotterdam
- 010 200 4815
- info@loefmondzorg.nl
- KVK 82679282
Opening hours Open now · today until 17:00
- Monday 08:00 – 17:00
- Tuesday 08:00 – 21:00
- Wednesday 08:00 – 17:00
- Thursday 08:00 – 17:00
- Friday 08:00 – 17:00
- Saturday 09:00 – 16:00
- Sunday Closed
Also open on Tuesday evenings until 21:00 — easy to combine your visit with work.
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