Caries Process, Prevention, and Management: Erosion

Course overview

This course establishes the concept of erosive tooth wear (ETW) as a condition that is distinct from caries, and as a public health issue with increasing prevalence in people of all ages. The mineralized tooth substance (dental enamel, dentine and cementum) can be worn through either physical processes, such as attrition and abrasion or chemical processes triggered by the exposure to acids not derived from oral bacteria. These three processes are discussed, as well as the chemical, biological, and behavioral factors that increase or reduce risk of tooth surface loss. In addition, diagnosis, monitoring methods, prevention measures, and ways of protecting erosion-affected surfaces from further erosive damage are introduced.