Dental Abrasion

                              

It may seem logical that the harder you brush your teeth, the cleaner they will be. But applying too much pressure can actually weaken the outer layers of the tooth structure. This condition, called dental abrasion, can occur when any foreign object causes friction against your teeth and gradually wears away the enamel on the surface.

If you've noticed the signs of dental abrasion, small v-shaped notches near the gums, it may be time to review your oral hygiene regimen with your dentist or dental hygienist. Don't worry, you won't need to retire your toothbrush altogether.

Your dentist or dental hygienist can suggest proper techniques to restore and protect a healthy smile.

Cause and Effect

Strenuous brushing is the most common culprit, but any object that repeatedly rubs against your teeth can wear them down. Using toothpicks improperly can contribute to dental abrasion, as well chewing on fingernails, pencils or other objects.

In some cases, ill-fitting retainers or partial dentures can also be to blame. Believe it or not, the type of toothpaste you use may even be a factor as some formulas are more abrasive than others.

While protecting the appearance of your teeth may be the most obvious reason to prevent and treat dental abrasion, weakened enamel can also contribute to more serious dental problems over time. Many patients experience increased tooth sensitivity to heat and cold. In addition, without its protective outer layer, a tooth may be more susceptible to infection. In advanced cases, when dental abrasion is left un diagnosed and/or untreated, a tooth may need a tooth filling or tooth extraction.

Dental Abrasion Treatment: What You Should (and Should Not) Do

While there are multiple ways to treat dental abrasion, it's always better to prevent dental issues before they start. You can start your dental treatment by following a few simple guidelines:

- Always use a soft-bristled toothbrush.
- Ask your dentist for tips on how to brush properly, and avoid brushing too hard.
- Refrain from chewing on toothpicks and pencils or biting your nails.
- Make sure removable dental appliances fit properly and have them checked on a regular basis.
- Don't forget to schedule regular dental visits to give your dentist a chance to detect any problems early on.

If any portion of your tooth surface has begun to wear away, your dentist may be able to correct the problem with fluoride treatment. Depending on your needs, he or she may also use dental bonding or dental fillings to replace the lost tooth structure. Also be sure to ask your dentist about air abrasion, which is the newest method of cleaning out tooth decay -- while also relieving dental anxiety.

The most important step you can take in abrasion treatment and prevention is to see a dental professional on a regular basis and ask questions about your hygiene regimen.

Pericoronitis

Why are Wisdom Teeth/3rd Molars most often Extracted often by Dentists

Wisdom Tooth or the 3rd Molar is the most commonly Extracted tooth due to pathological reasons by Dentists. Wisdom Teeth or 3rd molar teeth are being considered as vestigial parts of the human body as with evolution over decades it is seen that in some people 3rd molars are completely absent not even tooth buds are seen, and in others the jaw size decreasing constantly is the main reason for the lack of space for the 3rd molars to erupt into Occlusion and leading to Impaction.

There are various Steps in local examination to diagnose Impaction and the type of Surgery required to remove it. For example Wharf's Assesment of Impacted 3rd molar. After Reading this post you will understand Why a dentist prefers removal of 3rd molar and asks you to get it extracted.

Reasons for 3rd Molar Extraction:

Here are some reasons why 3rd Molar is the most commonly impacted tooth in the Oral cavity and also why Dentists persist of getting it removed every time you visit a dentist.

Most commonly impacted tooth:

We all know that 3rd molars are the most commonly impacted teeth in the oral cavity after them come the Canines, but because of Impaction the Other teeth in the oral cavity are affected mostly 2nd Molar which is adjacent and due to the position of the 3rd molar it is most commonly affected. If there is Mesial Impaction of 3rd molar there is a trench formed between the crowns of 3rd and 3nd molar which will lead to food accumulation and if there is horizontal impaction the crown of 3rd molar will impinge on the root of 2nd molar leading to resorption of the Root. Hence for this main reason 3rd molar is the most extracted tooth in Oral Cavity.

Lack of Space in the dental arch:

Due to constant evolutionary changes to living beings the change in living conditions and the lack of requirement of that extra tooth to chew and to get good appearance the Jaw Size of Humans is decreasing and this is leading to loss of Space in Jaw for the 3rd molar to erupt which takes place after the growth stage is finished in Boys/Girls.

Lack of Space preventing eruption of 3rd molar

Lack of Space due to decrease in Jaw size is the Major reason for Impaction of 3rd molar which in turn leads to Extraction of the impacted 3rd molar.

Unwanted Location of the tooth:

Due to lack of Space and the tooth having no place to go the tooth is seen to get stuck in various unwanted locations which are classified as Mesial, Distal, Horizontal, Vertical Impaction and this is the cause of various conditions like, Caries, Cysts, Pericoronitis etc and the only solution is removal of this harmful tooth. Sometimes the Root of Impacted 3rd molar most commonly impinges on the Inferior or Dental Alveolar Nerve canal, so relation of third molar to Dental/Inferior alveolar canal is important in diagnosing and deciding the treatment plan.

Difficult to clean and prevent caries:

Due to the location of 3rd molar in the far end of the Oral cavity and at many times because of its odd locations makes it very difficult to clean and remove Food and Debris from accumulating which will lead to Caries to the Impacted tooth and along with it the adjacent 2nd Molar as well. In Mesial impaction because of the trench formation between 3rd and 2nd molar Caries is seen in both 3rd molar and the distal aspect of 2nd molar, so to protect the 2nd Molar removal of 3rd molar is compulsory.

Common reason for Pericoronitis:

Pericoronitis is the most common complain in 3rd molar impactions and the most common reason why people come to know that they have impacted tooth and visit the Dentist. Pericoronitis is nothing but inflammation of the Soft tissue covering the crown of the Impacted 3rd molar because it constantly gets impinged between the 3rd and 2nd molar crowns.