DENTISTRY
the dentin produced by amelobasts from the pulp increases the distance between the pulp and enamel, decreasing
sensitivity and the possibility of infection (Figure 2).
1
Enamel abrasion
2
Enamel attrition
Abrasion is wear caused by tooth contact with nondental objects such as chewing on fences (Figure
3A), bones, antlers, flying disks and tennis balls. What’s the
harm in tennis balls? They accumulate sand in the yellow
web, creating a sandpaper-like effect that, when chewed,
removes enamel and dentin and can expose the pulp (Figure 3B).
Figure 4D. A left mandibular enamel canine defect caused by attrition.
Attrition involves tooth wear caused by contact of
a tooth with another tooth. It occurs secondary to
skeletal malocclusion (the jaw lengths are abnormal) or a
dental malocclusion (the jaws are of normal lengths but
individual teeth are malpositioned) (Figures 4A-4I).
Figure 4A. A mandibular mesioclusion resulting in attrition caused by the maxillary second incisors.
Figure 4E. Light-cured composite applied to the prepared defect pictured
in Figure 4D after gingivectomy.
Figure 4B. Enamel and dentin loss on the distal surfaces of the mandibular canines caused by the maxillary second incisors in the same patient as Figure 4A.
Figure 4C. The enamel and dentin defects pictured in Figure 4B restored with
light-cured composite after extraction of the right and left maxillary second
incisors.
Figure 4F. The restored tooth pictured in Figures 4D and 4E.
Issue 06 | DECEMBER 2016 | 7