You may not be worried about anything, but your dentist will one day decide to pick open the enamel on your front tooth and smear filling material there. The filling, as a rule, quickly falls off, because it is very thin and rests on something incomprehensible: there is no hole.
And it happens the other way around: the tooth hurts from cold, hot, sour and sweet, but the dentist does nothing, because “there is no caries, it’s just a wedge-shaped defect” – and tells you to take better care of your teeth.
And you, of course, in both cases seethe with righteous anger and feel deceived. In order for you to continue to imagine what, in fact, we are talking about, to know what questions to ask the doctor, and to be able to give (or not give) really informed consent to reaming a generally healthy tooth, Goodshapetips called for help from a trusted expert.
What is a wedge defect
This is a defect in the hard tissues of the tooth at its base (in the cervical region) of a wedge-shaped shape. Do not confuse with caries – a wedge-shaped defect has nothing to do with it.
The essence of the problem is that the gum exposes the tooth more than it was intended by nature. As a result, the tooth looks long and pointed at the base. That part of the tooth, which, in theory, should have been covered by the gum, turns out to be open. But it is not adapted to such an existence, therefore it reacts quite sharply to external influences (more correctly, the sensitivity of the enamel in this part of the tooth is increased) and quickly darkens (this is a wedge-shaped defect). But you may not find it right away: there is still some margin of safety.
What causes a wedge-shaped defect?
It occurs when the recession (exposure) of the gums and a decrease in the level of the gingival margin during periodontitis. What can cause gum recession? Here are the most common reasons:
- Malocclusion. As a result, when chewing, some teeth get too much load – well, that’s it …
- Bruxism is teeth grinding during sleep.
- Constant exposure to acids. This is usually associated with diseases of the gastrointestinal tract, increased acidity of the stomach.
- Improper oral hygiene. When brushing your teeth, all movements should be strictly vertical, not horizontal. And strictly from the gum to the edge of the tooth, and not vice versa. In childhood and adolescence, it may seem to you that this is a trifle, and then – oops! – the gum “departed” …
- Brushes with hard bristles and electric brushes. Often, patients do not control the degree of pressing the brush, and as a result, the enamel suffers. For good electric brushes, excessive pressure is usually warned by a light or sound indicator – do not ignore it.
It is worth noting that all of the above circumstances may not cause a wedge-shaped defect: it all depends on your innate “safety margin”. But it is better to avoid risk factors, especially since it is not difficult.
How to get rid of a defect
If a defect has appeared, it is unfortunately impossible to get rid of it. Dynamic monitoring is required. With proper hygiene and following the doctor’s recommendations, the defect can remain in the same state for a long time without disturbing you.
It is important to get to the orthodontist in time – the teeth must be exactly in a row.
It is necessary to seal a wedge-shaped defect only if there is a very high sensitivity on the exposed part of the tooth (as a rule, it does not happen in the early stages).
In general, in the presence of such a problem, it is necessary to treat both teeth and gums, scrupulously observe oral hygiene and regularly visit the dentist to remove dental deposits that provoke periodontitis and the formation of erosive processes.
Read also:
Over 60 free dental clinics to open in Moscow
How dental health affects health
