How to Restore Tooth Wear Lesions: A Predictable, Beautiful Solution from an Experienced Oakville Restorative Dentist
This article is based on Dr. Taylor’s original research published in the Journal of the Canadian Dental Association.
Article Abstract:
Over the past two decades, dental care has evolved dramatically. Patients are keeping their natural teeth longer and expecting more beautiful, lasting results—even when dealing with complex dental problems like abfraction lesions.
What Causes These Frustrating Tooth Defects?
Abfraction lesions result from mechanical overloading of your teeth. When your teeth flex under pressure from grinding, clenching, or aggressive brushing, the enamel and underlying dentin can fail, creating these characteristic wedge-shaped defects.
As a Fellow Member of The Canadian Academy of Restorative Dentistry and Prosthodontics with over 30 years of experience treating patients in downtown Oakville, I’ve seen how these lesions can significantly impact quality of life.
The Hidden Problems Abfraction Lesions Create
These seemingly small defects can lead to serious complications:
Tooth Sensitivity: Exposure of the inner dentin layer causes sharp pain when eating cold foods or drinking hot beverages.
Root Decay: The irregular shape of these lesions makes thorough cleaning difficult, allowing harmful bacteria to accumulate and cause cavities below the gum line.
Gum Problems: The altered tooth shape can cause gum tissue to become inflamed and overgrown, creating an unhealthy environment around your teeth.
The frustrating reality is that these problems don’t necessarily appear all at once, making early diagnosis and treatment crucial.
A Proven Solution: Dr. Taylor’s Predictable Restoration Technique
Through my work at Oakville Trafalgar Memorial Hospital and as a clinical instructor at the University of Western Ontario, I’ve refined a restoration technique that addresses both the functional and aesthetic challenges of abfraction lesions.
This approach has been published in the Journal of the Canadian Dental Association and provides consistently excellent results for my patients at Shore Side Dentistry.
√Step 1: Comfortable Preparation We begin with gentle numbing techniques, ensuring your complete comfort throughout the procedure. Shade selection happens before any treatment begins—when your teeth are at their natural color.
√Step 2: Precise Tissue Management Using specialized retraction techniques, we create optimal access while protecting your gums. When lesions extend more than 1mm below the gum line, we may use advanced radiosurgical instruments for precise tissue recontouring.
√Step 3: Expert Preparation Design The key to success lies in the preparation design. We create a specific chamfer margin at the gum line that extends into the spaces between teeth, combined with a long bevel extending toward the middle of your tooth. This design maximizes both strength and aesthetics.
√Step 4: Advanced Bonding Protocol We use modern self-etching primer systems that achieve the same strong bond strength as traditional techniques while being gentler on your teeth. The preparation surface develops a glossy appearance when properly prepared—a crucial indicator of successful bonding.
√Step 5: Precise Restoration Placement Using flowable composite for deeper areas and microhybrid composite for the visible portions, we carefully sculpt your restoration to require minimal finishing. Strategic light-curing techniques minimize shrinkage while ensuring optimal strength.
√Step 6: Meticulous Finishing High-speed carbide burs, specialized polishing systems, and careful hand-finishing of all margins ensure your restoration looks and feels completely natural.
This comprehensive approach delivers multiple benefits:
Patient education remains crucial for long-term success. Most abfraction lesions result from bruxism (teeth grinding), clenching, or aggressive brushing habits. At Shore Side Dentistry, we provide custom-fitted acrylic splints designed with mutually protected occlusion to prevent future damage.
Located in the heart of downtown Oakville, Shore Side Dentistry combines advanced technology with personalized care. Dr. Taylor’s extensive training and affiliations—including his Distinguished degree from Western Ontario’s Schulich School of Medicine and Dentistry and his Fellowship with the Canadian Academy of Restorative Dentistry and Prosthodontics—ensure you receive the highest standard of care.
Our modern dental facility on Lakeshore Trafalgar on Oakville offers:
Don’t let abfraction lesions compromise your oral health or confidence. With proper diagnosis, expert treatment, and preventive care, these challenging lesions can be restored to provide years of comfortable function and natural beauty.
Contact Shore Side Dentistry today to schedule your consultation and discover how Dr. Taylor’s proven techniques can restore your smile and your confidence.
Source Attribution: This article is based on Dr. Peter Taylor’s original clinical research titled “How can we restore abfraction lesions in a predictable and esthetically pleasing manner?” published in the Journal of the Canadian Dental Association, Vol. 71, No. 8, September 2005.
Click to read the complete clinical case study with detailed techniques and photographs in the original CDA publication.
Dr. Taylor has a Hon BSc Biology (Distinction), from the University of Western Ontario. He is a DDS (Distinction), from the Schulich School of Medicine. Dr. Taylor is the principal dentist at Shore Side Dentistry in Oakville ON.
Dr. Taylor is a Fellow Member of The Canadian Academy of Restorative Dentistry and Prosthodontics and is a Member of The International Team of Implantologists.
Dr. Taylor also teaches dentistry at Western University, where he is the Adjunctive Clinical Professor & Lecturer in Prosthodontics at Schulich School of Medicine and Dentistry, in London Ontario.
In 2021 the Schulich School of Medicine and Dentistry’s Undergraduate Dental Education department at Western University in London, Ontario, conferred upon Dr. Peter Taylor the 2021 C.Y. Lung Award!
Celebrate the Season of Smiles with Shore Side Dentistry in Oakville! Our dedicated dental team is here to keep your smile healthy and bright throughout the holidays. From family-friendly care to advanced treatments, we provide exceptional dental services in a warm and welcoming environment. Visit your trusted Oakville dentist and start the new year with confidence and a radiant smile
Don’t let abfraction lesions compromise your oral health or confidence. With proper diagnosis, expert treatment, and preventive care, these challenging lesions can be restored to provide years of comfortable function and natural beauty.
