Worn Teeth

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Worn Teeth

Worn Teeth
Worn teeth primarily result from excessive brushing and / or grinding of teeth. When the teeth become worn the hard outer protective layer is eroded which can cause the teeth to become sensitive.

Brushing Technique
Your brushing technique is very important when it comes to tooth wear. Constant brushing with the same action and the same force using a hard bristled brush is destructive.

Your brushing action should vary and should never involve a scrubbing technique. You should use a soft bristled brush and this should be changed regularly. Our team of dedicated hygienists here at The Macquarie Street Centre for Implant & Aesthetic Dentistry will happily show the correct technique to avoid eroding your teeth through toothbrush wear.

Tooth Grinding / clenching
Tooth grinding or bruxism occurs when teeth rub against each other. It can occur during the day or while we sleep. Tooth grinding has no specific cause, but is believed to be a combination of many factors, such as:

Malocculsion (teeth that are not aligned properly)
Emotional stress
Time pressure
Personalities characterised as controlling.
The signs of tooth grinding include:

Aggressive tooth wear
Fractures of the teeth and fillings
Grinding noises noticed by a sleeping partner
Facial muscle pain and fatigue
Locking, cracking, or clicking of the jaws
Headaches
Tooth mobility
Sensitive teeth
The treatment of tooth grinding depends on its cause. At times dental appliances can be of major benefit. The best strategies make use of behavioural therapies to stop the tooth grinding.

Patient Solution
Paul was in his mid thirties and came to visit us from sunny Queensland, over the years his teeth had drifted some what due to a combination of “tooth grinding” and movement. You can see from the pictures that he had dramatically “worn” his teeth, which gave him a prematurely aged smile. Paul was also very keen to have a lighter, brighter smile, so we firstly undertook tooth whitening procedures to lift the shade of his teeth. Once the whitening was completed, we went on to produce all-ceramic crowns on his upper teeth, to help build up his bite, support his jaw joints, protect his teeth against further damage and also give Paul the brighter smile that he always wanted.