Abrasion is the pathological wearing away of tooth substance caused by external abrasive agents. It can be caused by abrasive dentifrices, horizontal tooth brushing with heavy pressure, occupational or ritual abrasion, or dental floss or toothpicks. Clinically, abrasion appears as V-shaped lesions on exposed tooth roots and causes sensitivity as dentin is exposed. Radiographically, abrasion shows as radiolucent defects at the cervical level of teeth with increasing density borders that are semi-lunar in shape. Management involves modifying teeth cleaning habits, removing the cause, and performing restorations.

1. Abrasion

2. General information
Pathological wearing away of tooth substance
through abnormal mechanical process caused
by external agent
in case of tooth wear which is accelerated by
chewing an abrasive substance between
opposing teeth exhibits a feature of attrition and
abrasion. This is called as demastication

3. Aetiology
Abrasive dentifrices
habitual
horizontal tooth brushing
occupational
dental floss or tooth picks injury
ritual abrasion

4. Clinical features
• More commonly seen on left side of right handed
persons and vice versa
• Usually occurs on exposed surfaces of roots of teeth
• Occurs due to back and forth movement of brush with
heavy pressure causing bristles to assume wedge
shaped arrangement between Crown and root
• V shaped wedge shaped ditch on the root at at the
cementoenamel junction
• Patient develops sensitivity as dentine becomes
exposed

5. Radiographic features
Radiolucent defect at the cervical level of
teeth
well defined semilunar shape, with
borders of increasing density
pulp chamber may be partially or fully
sclerosed in severely affected teeth

6. Management
Modified teeth cleaning habits – modification
of teeth cleaning habits will be indicated
removal of cause
restoration