2. General information
Physiologic wearing away of teeth because of tooth-to-tooth
contact, as in mastication
it plays an important physiological role as it may helps to
maintain an advantageous Crown to root ratio and gains
intercoronal space of 1 cm which facilitates third molar eruption
attrition can be considered pathological when it causes
functional, aesthetic and dental sensitivity problems
3. Types
Physiological attrition – attrition which
occurs due to normal ageing process,
due to mastication
pathological attrition – it occurs due to
certain abnormalities in occlusion,
chewing pattern or due to some
structural defects in teeth
4. Aetiology
Abnormal chewing habits – parafunctional chewing habits
like bruxism and chronic persistent chewing of coarse and
abrasive food or other substance like tobacco
in certain occupations workers are exposed to an
atmosphere of abrasive dust and cannot avoid it getting
into mouth
Millar Genesis imperfecta and dentinogenesis imperfecta,
hardness of enamel and dentin is reduced and such teeth
become more prone to attrition
5. Clinical features
Men have a greater masticatory forces so have more attrition
It occurs only on occlusal, incisal and proximal surfaces of teeth
Small polished facet of a cusp tip Ridge and slight flattening of
an incisal edge
When the dentin gets exposed, it generally becomes discoloured
that is Brown in colour
There is gradual reduction In cusp height and consequent
flattening of occlusal inclined plane
6. Radiographic features
Smooth wearing of incisal and occlusal surfaces of involved
teeth is evident by shortened Crown image
Sclerosis of pulp chamber and canals is seen due to deposit
shall of secondary dentin which narrows the pulp canals
Widening of PDL space and hypercementosis
Some loss of alveolar bone
7. Management
Habit breaking appliance
Correction of
malocclusion,
stoppage of tobacco
chewing habit and
restriction and diet
to non-coarse food
are usually done
Management of
sensitivity
anaesthetics is done
