What Is It?
Abfraction lesions are small notches caused by stress (forces) on your teeth. Biting, chewing, clenching and grinding put pressure on your teeth. Over time, this pressure can cause cracks and splits in the outer layer of your teeth. This occurs in the thinnest part of your enamel, near the gumline.
Grinding your teeth puts pressure on them over and over. For this reason, people who grind their teeth are more likely to get abfraction lesions.
Abfraction lesions are fairly common in adults. Older adults are especially likely to have them. They occur more often in the back teeth, called premolars and molars. But they can occur in the front teeth as well. They appear as crescent-shaped or wedge-shaped notches near the gumline.
Teeth with abfraction lesions are not more likely to decay, but they can get weaker over time. Weak teeth may be more likely to break.
Symptoms
Abfraction lesions don’t usually hurt. They affect the enamel, the outer layer of the tooth. In severe cases, the dentin and cementum layers of a tooth may become involved. Dentin is the layer below the enamel. Cementum covers the tooth root instead of enamel. Dentin may be exposed if a crack develops. In these cases, the tooth may become sensitive. Otherwise, the lesions do not cause symptoms.
Diagnosis
Your dentist can see abfraction lesions during a regular dental exam.
Expected Duration
Abfraction lesions do not heal over time. Some may worsen, but in most cases they do not need to be treated.
Prevention
Abfraction lesions are caused by the uneven forces produced when you bite or grind your teeth. Therefore, you usually can’t prevent them. If you grind your teeth, you can wear a night guard to reduce the pressure on your teeth. In some cases, a few teeth get extra pressure because of the way the teeth come together (the bite). Dentists often can fix this kind of problem.
Treatment
Many abfraction lesions do not need treatment. Whether to treat the lesions depends on where they are, how many there are, and other things.
Your dentist can treat abfraction lesions by filling them. The process is often like filling a cavity. In other cases, the tooth does not need to be drilled first. The material also is similar to a tooth filling. Choices include a composite material or glass ionomer cement.
A tooth with abfraction lesions may be more likely to break. In these cases, treatment will strengthen the teeth. Some people may not like how the lesions look and may ask their dentists to cover them. However, in most cases the lesions don’t cause problems. You and your dentist can decide whether to treat them.
When To Call a Professional
If you notice notching or wear on your teeth near the gums, you do not need to call your dentist right away. You can point them out at your next visit. You may want to come in sooner if the lesions are causing tooth sensitivity.
An abfraction lesion is not the same as a cracked tooth. A cracked tooth is much more serious. Deep cracks are likely to affect the inside of the tooth, the pulp. These cracks are painful. These teeth need to be treated right away.
Prognosis
Most abfraction lesions do not need treatment. For others, filling the areas with cement or composite solves the problem.