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I’d like to take a moment and talk with you about what we should be thinking when we see patients that have wear.
Patients should not have exposed dentin in their mouth. If a patient has worn away enough enamel to get exposure of the dentin, we have to realize that this is an advanced problem, and something that should be addressed, and something that should be expressing concern for our patients with regard to the wear.
Wear is a great indication of instability within a patient’s occlusion. We talk about wear, migration, and mobility when we think of the occlusion and the ways that we will see instability show up into our patients’ dentition.
When you have a patient that comes in that does not have any symptoms or any pain or any issues from wear, that patient still deserves the right to have concern expressed for that wear. Once dentin gets exposed in the mouth, that problem is only going to accelerate and get worse. This is a wonderful opportunity for you to sit down with your patient and express a concern for what you’re seeing in their mouth.
To learn more about the worn dentition, why it happens, and how to treat it, reserve a spot in the Functional Occlusion – From TMJ to Smile Design dental CE course.
ADA CERP is a service of the American Dental Association to assist dental professionals in identifying quality providers of continuing dental education. ADA CERP does not approve or endorse individual courses or instructors, nor does it imply acceptance of credit hours by boards of dentistry.
Concerns or complaints about a CE provider may be directed to the provider or to the Commission for Continuing Education Provider Recognition at ADA.org/CERP.
