Have you ever come across those ‘ditch-like’ structures on your teeth? Even though you think your teeth are cavity-free, yet you see such structures? Such indentations are called Cervical abrasions.
Cervical abrasions are pathological loss of the outermost surface of the tooth, called the enamel, at the area where the tooth meets the gums and the root. it is usually not related to any caries activity aka cavity.
Not only Indians but the second highest population who are affected by this are the Japanese. We have come across many of our Japanese expat patients who have such findings and have always been recommended the right and suitable treatment. It is usually referred to as Shikyukei-bu mamo in Japanese.
The reasons for the development of such lesions are:
- Improper way of brushing
- Brushing with a lot of force
- Using hard bristle toothbrush
- Brushing more than twice a day
- Improper/ uneven force of mastication on the teeth/tooth due to crowding of teeth aka maligned teeth.
- Teeth grinding (bruxism)
Symptoms that one experiences:
- Sensitivity to cold
- Sensitivity to hot beverages
- Mild discomfort
Treatment of cervical abrasions:
- In case there is only sensitivity to cold, one can do tooth-coloured filling aka composite filling
- In case there’s a severe sensitivity to hot or experiencing pain, painless root canal treatment in South Delhi and the Gurgaon branch of The Dental Roots is recommended.
One way to prevent cervical abrasions is to avoid using a toothbrush that is too harsh. A person can also use toothpaste that is specifically designed to reduce the likelihood of developing these types of abrasions.
The team at The Dental Roots in Delhi and Gurgaon will make sure to advise you with the best and most suitable treatment options.