Here at Penryn Dental Practice, we have noticed that as more people are retaining their teeth for longer, some are developing excessive tooth wear. As the structure of the tooth is damaged, nerves can be exposed, causing pain and discomfort. Excessive tooth wear can result in a drastic change in the shape of your tooth, for example making it much shorter or even a chunk breaking off of it. This can lead to embarrassment in the appearance of your teeth and even difficulty eating and speaking.
What causes tooth wear?
There are a number of reasons behind the wear on your teeth. Your diet can have a huge impact on your oral health, for example. Do you have a lot of acidic food and drink? Examples include acidic fruits such as orange and grapefruit, and drinks such as flavoured fizzy drinks, coffee and alcohol. This is a leading problem in tooth wear, as it can weaken your enamel and lead to further tooth damage.
You may be a sufferer of a teeth grinding habit where your teeth rub against each other, often in your sleep, causing them to be ground down. If you have a medical condition, this may affect the strength of your teeth, making you more susceptible to tooth wear over time.
How can you fix tooth wear?
If you are experiencing problems with tooth damage due to wear, don’t worry. Our friendly team have experience in recognising tooth wear, and will discuss with you the important prevention techniques to help limit the damage to your teeth. This may include wearing protective splints to help reduce the grinding habit and reduce further damage to your teeth. Our dentists have undergone additional training and have worked with lots of patients in order to rebuild severely worn teeth to maintain chewing function, improve speech and boost their confidence.
Depending on the extent of your tooth wear, we may suggest a dental crown, which is a tooth-shaped ‘cap’ to restore your tooth’s shape, size, strength, and to improve its appearance. You may need a filling – here at Penryn Dental Practice we offer natural coloured fillings that are strong and made to fit the natural shade of your teeth, so are barely noticeable. For more severe damage, we can offer custom-made dental implants, dental bridges and tooth reconstruction using composite material. If you suffer from tooth grinding, we can provide a protective mouth guard to wear at night to help reduce the grinding habit while you sleep.
To find out more about how we can help you achieve your perfect smile, get in touch with the team today for an informal discussion.
Want to read more? Visit our general dentistry and advanced dentistry treatment pages for further information.
