NON CARIOUS TOOTH SURFACE LOSS

Question 1

a. Suggest 3 common causes that may cause the patient’s condition. (3)

Answer 1

Question 2

b. What 3 other common complaint are often made by patients with the same condition? (3)

Answer 2

 Acute pain when eating cold or sour food

 Discolouration of the tooth
 Irregular incisal edges of the incisors

Question 3

c. Give 4 reasons for tooth surface loss aside from caries and trauma.

Answer 3

Erosion

Abrasion

Attirtion

Abfractions

Question 4

Explain why erosion causes tooth surface loss.

Answer 4

 A chemical process in which the tooth surface is removed in the absence of plaque.

 The acid decreases the pH of the surrounding and causes demineralization of the tooth surface

Question 5

Explain why abrasion causes tooth surface loss.

Answer 5

 External agents which have an abrasive effect on the teeth include toothbrush bristles and dietary factors

 The agents grind against the tooth surface removing bits of enamel

Question 6

Explain why attrition causes tooth surface loss.

Answer 6

 A process in which tooth tissue is removed as a result of opposing surfaces contacting during function or parafunction. Such direct contact occurs at proximal areas, on supporting cusps and on guiding surfaces during empty grinding movements

Question 7

Explain why abfraction causes tooth surface loss.

Answer 7

 The theory propounds tooth fatigue, flexure and deformation via biomechanical loading of the tooth

structure, primarily at the cervical regions

 Cusp flexure causes stress at the cervical fulcrum and results in loss of the overlying tooth structure.

Question 8

d. What 4 factors are important when considering the need for treatment for this condition? (4)

Answer 8

 The degree of wear relative to the age of the patient

Question 9

e. Write down your management strategies for this patient (7)

Answer 9