Identification and Management of Tooth Wear

The etiology and treatment of occlusal tooth wear remain controversial. Longer tooth retention by the aging population increases the likelihood that clinicians will be treating patients with worn dentitions. A careful approach to interventional clinical procedures is advocated but should not curtail definitive management of patients having identifiable and potent causative agents that produce a rapid deterioration of the dentition. This article describes the epidemiology and etiology of occlusal wear and presents a conservative approach to its management.