Tooth wear Sample Clauses

Tooth wear. Tooth wear is defined as the irreversible, non-traumatic loss of dental hard tissues due to processes classified as erosion, attrition and abrasion (Xxxxxxxx and Xxxxx, 2000; Xxxxx, 2006) and abfraction (Xxx and Xxxxx, 1984). Erosion is chemical wear as a result of extrinsic or intrinsic acids acting on tooth surfaces. Attrition is physical wear as a result of the action of antagonistic teeth. Abrasion is physical wear as a result of mechanical processes involving foreign bodies. Abfraction is thought to be a type of fatigue wear which occurs as a result of tensile or shear stress in the cemento-enamel junction which initiate micro fractures in enamel and dentine (Xxx and Xxxxx, 1984). The terms ‘tooth wear’ and ‘tooth surface loss’ are interchangeable however the former term is preferred by the author. Considered from a historical or anthropological perspective, some degree of tooth wear is considered a natural part of aging. (Xxxxxxxxx, 2000) and Xxxxx and Poole (1974) first advocated the theory that the human dentition was designed to wear (even extensively) and that a certain degree of tooth wear optimized the functional capabilities of the human dentition. Within the dental community however, Xxxxx and Xxxxxx (1984a) were the first to distinguish between ‘physiological’ tooth wear and ‘pathological’ tooth wear. This classification depends on the age of the patient and the rate of progression of the tooth wear, with pathological tooth wear being that which threatens the survival of the tooth, or causes aesthetic concerns, sensitivity, loss of vitality and failure of restorations or results in occlusal problems. This remains a subjective assessment however it is generally agreed that excessive levels of tooth wear may be a cause for major concern to patients and clinicians alike and the World Health Organisation (1992) has included attrition, abrasion and erosion in the International Classification of Diseases.