As we get older, our teeth may wear down naturally. But excessive tooth wear can cause your teeth to feel painful or sensitive, as well affecting your appearance.
When you visit Swish Dental for your regular check-up, we'll examine your teeth and may recommend a tooth erosion treatment if we think it could help. Our dentists in Everton Park and Mitchelton will give you all the information you need about this treatment so you can decide if it's the right decision for you.
Make an appointment at your nearest Swish Dental clinic to discuss your options for tooth wear in Brisbane today.
Why is tooth erosion a problem?
If the hard enamel surface of your teeth wears down, this can cause them to become more sensitive to pressure and temperature when you eat and drink. Worn teeth may affect your ability to eat and speak normally and are also more vulnerable to decay, infections, chips and cracks.
Tooth wear can also cause your teeth to turn yellow and to shorten, so they may not show when you smile. Another effect of tooth erosion is that your jaws may move closer together, which can alter the shape of your face and cause a premature aged appearance.
What causes tooth wear?
Some level of tooth erosion occurs naturally with age, but it can be made worse when the teeth are exposed to acids. This may be more common than you realise.
Citrus fruits, vinegar, fizzy drinks, fruit juice, wine and many other foods and drinks contain acids that get left behind on your teeth. Teeth can also be exposed to acids through vomiting or reflux (heartburn and indigestion).
Tooth can also be worn down if you brush too hard and scrape away the enamel, or if you grind or clench your teeth.
Our dentists in Everton Park and Mitchelton will try to find the root cause of your tooth wear so we can recommend suitable treatment and prevention. We can also help you to restore worn teeth necks.
Before
After
What does tooth erosion treatment involve?
When you make an appointment with our dentists, we'll explain what tooth wear treatment involves and answer any questions you have along the way. There are typically 4 steps to the treatment:
Your consultation
During your consultation with our dentists, we'll ask you questions to help us understand what the cause of your tooth wear might be and what your goals are. We'll then carry our a thorough examination of your teeth, which may involve x-rays, and develop your personal treatment plan.
Trial smile
We'll then take impressions (moulds) of your teeth which we'll use to create a trial version of your new smile, which you can inspect and try out to see how it feels. You're welcome to give us any feedback that we'll take on board when designing your finished smile.
Restore teeth enamel
When you're happy with your trial smile, we'll restore your teeth enamel using a composite resin that's been customised to match to your natural tooth shade or a different shade of your choice. We'll then fit a protective splint to help preserve your new smile.
Follow-up
We'll arrange a follow-up appointment after 6 months to check that you're happy with the appearance and feel of your new smile. We can also clean and polish your restored teeth to help them look as good as possible, and discuss any other treatments you may be considering, such as veneers.
How can I prevent tooth erosion?
If we think your lifestyle may be causing your tooth wear, we may recommend that you cut down on acidic food and drink or talk to your doctor about any problems related to acid reflux or vomiting. If you grind or clench your teeth, we may discuss preventive treatments such as a dental splint.
What are the risks?
Your teeth may still feel sensitive after tooth erosion treatment. This should go away over time, but in the meantime you should avoid overly hot or cold food and drink and avoid biting down on hard or crunchy foods. Your rebuilt teeth should be as strong as natural tooth enamel, but they can still stain or damage just as easily.
How much does tooth erosion treatment cost?
The cost of this treatment varies depending on how severely your teeth are worn and how many teeth need to be treated. We can give you a quote after we examine your teeth and discuss insurance and payment options at your consultation.
Costs for dealing with Tooth Wear in Brisbane
| Item number | Procedure | Cost From |
| 525 | Anterior tooth coloured filling -5 surfaces | $255 |
| 535 | Posterior tooth coloured filling -5 surfaces | $266 |
Worn Teeth Necks
At Swish Dental we use the latest technology to rebuild any worn areas of your teeth. Once teeth are worn down the damage is irreversible. When we see worn areas we recommend protecting them with tooth coloured filling material to prevent further wear to the natural teeth.
Whats involved?
How long will they last?
It all depends how hard you are brushing and the strength of your teeth. In most cases they should last at least a few years but sometimes they can come off quicker from hard brushing forces or from the material not bonding to the teeth due to the tooths individual properties. If the fillings come off we try placing another material.
Talk to our dentists in Brisbane
For more information about tooth erosion treatments, make an appointment at your nearest Swish Dental clinic.
You can call our Everton Park branch on (07) 3355 1422 or our Mitchelton clinic on (07) 3354 3341.