Treatment Options for Dental Abfractions
At Ridgewood Dental Associates, our esteemed dentists treat the full range of dental conditions through a comprehensive selection of high-quality restorative dentistry procedures. This includes the relatively common, yet not widely known, condition clinically known as dental abfractions. Dental abfractions, or notches that occur in teeth at the gum line, affect millions of people. They can be effectively treated, especially in their earliest stages. However, if left untreated, they will only grow larger and eventually put the tooth at risk for being lost.
We are pleased to offer a variety of treatment options for dental abfractions at our Ridgewood, NJ cosmetic, restorative, and general dentistry practice. If you have dental abfractions, our dentists would welcome the opportunity to discuss your treatment options with you. The most important thing is to seek treatment as soon as possible - the longer you wait, the more damage that will occur to your teeth.
If you have notches in your teeth just above the gum line, do not hesitate to schedule your initial consultation with Dr. Jin Ha Joung, Dr. Mark Samani, or Dr. Min-Hee Cho at Ridgewood Dental Associates today.
How Are Dental Abfractions Treated?
First, it is important to state that dental abfractions are not caused by tooth decay, although the results are similar. Tooth decay is caused by bacteria first eroding the enamel of the tooth and then eating away at the underlying dentin. In cases of tooth decay, our dentists would remove the decayed portion and then rebuild the tooth using the most appropriate restorative dentistry technique.
While bacteria may certainly damage the tooth once a dental abfraction has occurred, they are not the underlying cause of the abfraction. Therefore, while restorative dentistry techniques will have to be used to rebuild the tooth, these alone will not address the underlying cause of the abfraction. Dental abfraction treatment must occur in two stages:
- Treatment of the abfraction: The initial stage of treatment involves the actual treatment of the abfraction - in other words, repair of the damage done to the tooth. If the abfraction is minor, the application of composite resin - a tooth-colored filling - may be sufficient to rebuild the tooth. If it is somewhat larger, then it may be advisable to cover the entire tooth with a dental crown. If an abfraction has reached a root canal and led to the infection of the dental pulp within, root canal therapy followed by the placement of a dental crown will be necessary.
- Treatment of the cause of the abfraction: The two most common causes of abfractions are tooth grinding and malocclusion. In the event of the former, lifestyle changes, stress reduction techniques, and custom night guard therapy can help to prevent further dental damage. In cases of malocclusion, orthodontic treatment may be necessary.
Learn More about Treatment for Dental Abfractions
If you would like to learn more about dental abfractions, or if you wish to schedule a consultation with one of our experienced dentists, please contact Ridgewood Dental Associates today.