How Do Dentists Treat Enamel Erosion?

Dentist Blog

Healthy enamel is even stronger than bone. But, unlike bone, enamel cannot heal itself once damaged. One form of damage that enamel suffers is enamel erosion. Enamel erosion is the gradual breakdown of the enamel surface, usually due to acids from various elements like food and bacteria.

If your teeth are suffering from enamel erosion, they may appear translucent around the edges. And you may be able to see the dentin layer underneath, which is usually yellow or brown.

Enamel erosion needs early intervention. This is because your teeth will become sensitive and more vulnerable to tooth decay if the erosion continues. Fortunately, dentists can treat enamel erosion in several ways.

Fluoride treatments

For early-stage enamel erosion, your dentist can recommend fluoride treatments. Fluoride can help to stimulate mineral growth in teeth, and so bolster enamel with enamel erosion. Your dentist can apply fluoride treatments to your teeth in-office, with fluoride gels, foams, or varnishes. And they may give you some supplements to take home with you, like fluoride tablets or toothpaste.  

Composite bonding

Sometimes, when erosion has damaged tooth enamel too badly, fluoride alone isn't enough to fix the problem. Your teeth may be brittle and at risk of breaking. And you may suffer from severe tooth sensitivity. Your teeth will need to be restored to bolster them and prevent them from breaking and chipping when you eat. Tooth restorations will also prevent tooth sensitivity.

A fast and inexpensive treatment for enamel erosion is composite bonding. Composite bonding is a resin material that looks like enamel once hardened and polished onto tooth enamel. Dentists spread this material onto your damaged enamel, harden it with a special light and then polish it so it resembles a natural tooth structure.

This is a good treatment for you if you are in a hurry, as composite bonding may only take about 45 minutes to complete and one dental visit.

Porcelain veneers

If your teeth are very badly eroded, or you want something even sturdier and more attractive than composite bonding, porcelain veneers are the best, albeit the most expensive, treatment for you. Porcelain veneers are thin shells of porcelain that adhere to your teeth with strong dental cement. These hard porcelain shells can cover your damaged teeth and protect them from further damage.

Are your teeth suffering from enamel erosion? Then talk to your dentist about the problem. They'll recommend a treatment and give you some advice on your oral habits so that enamel erosion doesn't occur in future.

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7 July 2021

Travel With An Australian Dentist:  The Best In The World

Miranda Raff here. My brother is a stressed-out dental student, so I'm starting this blog on his behalf. I work in a travel agency and my brother is mortified by the number of dental tourism stories I bring home. I book short holidays for people who seem as though they are going to enjoy some relaxation in an exotic country, only to learn that they plan to have cheap dental procedures. Whilst there are good dentists in developing countries, according to my brother, the complex procedures these people plan to have simply can't be finished in such a limited time. This blog is an attempt to inform you about the high skill levels and advanced technology found in Australian dental surgeries. New techniques are being developed every year and Australian dentists are at the forefront of offering these solutions. I really hope this blog helps you to appreciate our dentists.