110 Veneers and Worn Down Teeth.docx

Veneers and Worn Down Teeth

If you’ve noticed your teeth wearing down or you visited the dentist and they let you know your teeth have worn down, you may want to consider what repair options are available. The best repair option will depend on a few factors—one of the main ones being the severity of the wear on your teeth.

If your teeth have been worn down pretty significantly, your best option may be to have veneers placed.

What Are Veneers?

Veneers are dental prosthetics often made from porcelain or composite materials that are used to replace a portion of a damaged tooth. Unlike dental bonding, veneers need a significant amount of reshaping to place (but not as much as dental crowns). Veneers are a good option for patients that need a durable replacement prosthetic, and whose teeth have worn pretty significantly.

Why Are My Teeth Wearing Down?

There are a few reasons why your teeth have worn down over time. Some of these reasons include:

Abrasion

Abrasion is a slow process of wearing down the teeth that can often go unnoticed. Oftentimes, abrasion occurs when someone is using a toothbrush with hard bristles and/or they are brushing too hard.

Bruxism

Bruxism is a very common reason for teeth wearing. Bruxism is the grinding and clenching of teeth, generally at night. If this issue isn’t addressed early, it can lead to pretty severe damage.

Erosion

Your diet plays a significant role in the health of your teeth. If you are consistently eating foods and drinking beverages that are high in acids, you are wearing away at your teeth over time. This erosion will lead to the need for repairs.

Can I Avoid Worn Down Teeth?

There are a few different things that you can do to avoid worn down teeth. The first thing you can do is look for signs of bruxism. Some common signs of bruxism include:

* Sore Jaw
* Face and shoulder pain
* Earaches
* Difficulty sleeping
* Headaches

If you have bruxism, it’s extremely important for you to wear a night guard. Your dentist can have a custom night guard created for you. If you choose to not have a custom night guard created, you should at least buy an over-the-counter night guard. They are very inexpensive and can protect your teeth from wear.

If you are eating a lot of foods with acids and/or drinking a lot of beverages with a high acid content, you should either cut back or slow down significantly. This will stop your teeth from eroding. If you are brushing too hard and/or using a hard bristle toothbrush, consider a softer toothbrush and better brushing techniques.

With proper oral care, you can avoid worn down teeth.

Contact Your Dentist

If you notice your teeth are wearing down, contact your dentist and set an appointment for as soon as you can. The longer you wait, the more complex the repairs will be. Reach out today to set an appointment.