My Teeth Are Worn, Should I be Worried?

Worn teeth

When your teeth are worn it is something to be concerned about. If left untreated your teeth can wear nine times faster without the enamel covering on the outside of your tooth.

Your first concern should be what is causing it. Your second concern should be how to fix it. Finally, your third concern is how to prevent it from happening again.

The main cause of tooth wear is grinding your teeth, but it can also be caused by sleep apnea. When repairing worn teeth it is important to use the least amount of dentistry that can completely fix the problem. Depending on the severity of the wear and how many teeth are involved, treatment can include fillings, crowns, partial crowns called onlays, and/or porcelain veneers. Each avenue of treatment varies in strength, therefore, how long it will last, and cost.

By repairing your teeth to their normal form and making sure the bite is perfect you can prevent the wear from happening again in the future. You may also need a bite guard or even a sleep apnea device to prevent damage. It is very important to see a dentist who is focused on this type of treatment to prevent any future problems.

About the author

Stacey Sparkman Hall, D.D.S.

Dr. Stacey Hall brings her unique outlook on dental care and her personable optimism to the Williamsburg Center for Dental Health. With nine years of solid dental expertise as a dentist in Williamsburg, she decided in early 2011 to branch out and open her own local practice. After completing her undergraduate degree from Virginia Tech in 1998, Dr. Hall graduated from VCU’s MCV School of Dentistry in 2002, receiving her D.D.S. She is a member of the Academy of General Dentistry, the American Dental Association, and was awarded member fellowship to the International Congress of Oral Implantology in 2008. She leads the elite Tidewater Dawson Study Club and is a scholar with the interntaionally renowned Dawson Academy. As a Dawson ambassador, Dr. Hall also assists in the training of students in the Dawson Academy. Stacey and her husband Michael have been blessed with three beautiful girls, Lanie, Gracie and Abbie. She is a loyal Virginia Tech Football fan, and enjoys Bible study and missions work.