Worn teeth are when the outer surfaces of the teeth (enamel and/or dentine) are lost due to the wear and tear that teeth undergo.

Signs of worn teeth:

• Chipped and shorter teeth
• Lots of present wear
• Tooth sensitivity
• Teeth appear more translucent

There are certain factors that can exacerbate this irreversible loss leading to increased reduction of tooth substance.

The loss of tooth substance (enamel and dentine) may be as a result of mechanical factors such as an unbalanced bite, teeth worn down from grinding (bruxism), jaw problems or lack of back teeth and hence increased chewing forces on the front teeth.

Alternatively, it may be caused by chemical factors such as acid damage with acidic foods and drinks.

In most cases, there are usually both mechanical and chemical factors present which can cause many further dental problems.

• Attrition: This is when tooth wear occurs due to some mechanical interference causing an incorrect unstable tooth-to-tooth contact. The two teeth then wear each other away until the causative factor is removed. An example of attrition is when people unconsciously grind their teeth.
• Abrasion: This is when an external abrasive substance or material causes teeth to wear down. An example of this is toothpaste and toothbrushes.
• Erosion: This is when a chemical erodes the surface of teeth causing them to wear away. An example of this would be acidic foods, drinks and carbonated beverages.

Treatments & procedures:

• Crown restorations: As a crown covers an entire tooth the treatment will conceal any imperfections caused by short and uneven teeth. Dental crowns are thick caps that are positioned on top of damaged teeth, which cover, preserve and protect the underlying tooth. Materials to choose from include porcelain, resin, metals and ceramic.
• Veneer applications: Thinner than a crown, a veneer covers the front surface of the tooth rather than the whole tooth. Acting similarly to a crown, the veneer is used to conceal any imperfections without altering the existing tooth.
• Bonding: Tooth coloured composite resin that is used on one or more teeth to repair the damage – notably cheaper than other cosmetic dental procedures.

Short, worn teeth can tend to be an aesthetic issue, but as it progresses it can begin to affect your bite and even contribute to the temporomandibular joint disorder (TMD), which on its own causes headaches, neck and back pain.

Once you have worn through the outer enamel layer on your teeth, you will find yourself in the softer layer, called dentine.

Those who are at this stage will find their teeth wearing down at a much quicker rate. Tooth loss can be common.

What’s more, if left untreated, worn teeth can lead to further deterioration and long-term problems. This includes increased tooth sensitivity, infection, and difficulties with tooth restoration/fillings/ crowns in the future.

If the issue is left too long, then patients can find future treatments more costly and complex.

These issues could have otherwise been prevented.