Current concepts on the management of tooth wear: part 4. An overview of the restorative techniques and dental materials commonly applied for the management of tooth wear

Current concepts on the management of tooth wear: part 4. An overview of the restorative techniques and dental materials commonly applied for the management of tooth wear

I N B R I E F

Provides an overview of the available restorations commonly used for the management of pathological tooth wear.

Illustrates some of the techniques currently used to restore worn dentitions.

Stresses the role of contingency planning, as often the quantity and quality of available tooth tissue has already been severely compromised by the process of wear.

PRACTICE

S. B. Mehta,1 S. Banerji,2 B. J. Millar3 and J.-M. Suarez-Feito4

VERIFIABLE CPD PAPER

This nal article of the four part series on the current concepts of tooth wear will provide the reader with an evaluation of the data available in the contemporary literature with regards to the survival analysis of differing restorative materials, and their respective methods of application to treat tooth wear. It is vital that the dental operator is familiar with the role of differing materials which may be used to restore the worn dentition, some of which may prove to be more suitable for the management of particular patterns of tooth wear than others. The active management of tooth wear unfortunately commits the patient to a lifelong need for considerable maintenance, and it is imperative that this is understood from the outset.

RESTORATIVE MATERIALS/ RESTORATIONS COMMONLY USED IN THE MANAGEMENT OF TOOTH WEAR

A number of materials/restorations are commonly used for the treatment of cases presenting with tooth wear (TW).

CURRENT CONCEPTS ON THE MANAGEMENT OF TOOTH WEAR

Fig. 1 Gingival enamel ring, commonly seen among worn teeth, which is vital to the successful outcome of resin-retained/resin bonded restorations

(rather than relying solely on dentine bonding), and concomitantly help to control marginal microleakage. The exact reason for the presence of the gingival ring of enamel is unclear, but the neutralising effect of the presence of gingival crevicular fluid is thought to play an important role. It has also been suggested that the presence of plaque at the gingival margin may act as a barrier to prevent the diffusion of erosive acidic substrates.

Direct composite resin when used in the management of cases of tooth wear offers the advantages of:4 An acceptable aesthetic outcome...