Managing Lower Front Teeth Attrition
1. Introduction
• Daily issue observed in dental practice
• Common concern: Wear on lower front teeth
• Frequent question: Whatcanbedoneaboutit?
2. Common Recommendation
• Night guard usually prescribed
• Worn while sleeping or not eating
• Purpose: To reduce friction during grinding/clenching
3. The Problem Persists
• Night guards often fail to prevent continued wear
• Attrition becomes progressively worse
• Why? Because night guards don’t address daytime friction while chewing
4. Cause of Attrition
• Frictional contact between upper & lower front teeth
• Happens especially while chewing
• Common wear pattern visible
• Many patients show similar attrition signs
5. Understanding the Contact
• Colored visual to show where contact occurs
• Emphasize the wear zones between upper and lower teeth
• Cause: Repeated friction during functional movements
6. Effective Treatment Approach
• Goal: Prevent upper and lower teeth from touching
• Done by moving teeth out of the contact path
• Metal vs Ceramic : Both options help in correcting alignment
7. Treatment Modalities
• Invisalign / Aligners
• Braces / Orthodontics
• These options help to:
Realign teeth
Reduce frictional contact
Preserve natural tooth structure
