The A-Z of Dentistry - Abrasion

What do we mean by dental abrasion?

Dental abrasion is the loss of enamel and dentine of the tooth due to mechanical action, whether this is from chewing sticks, stones, bones or balls (to name a few). Over time this wear becomes noticeable as the tooth structure is broken down.

Enamel does not have the ability to repair itself, however dentine goes through a process of rebuilding in an attempt to avoid pulp exposure. If the abrasion happens too quickly, the dentine does not have time to repair itself resulting in pulp exposure, however if the wear happens over time there is a good chance the pulp has not been exposed.

Have you ever had a dog in that you can see the pulp chamber (within the crown) on physical examination of the mouth? It is important to be able to perform a full mouth assessment under general anaesthesia to gauge the severity of pulp exposure. Just because the owner claims their pet is 'not in any pain' does not mean they are not experiencing pain.

You may find that when running a dental probe over the affected teeth that it has a 'glass like' feel to it. The dentine is doing its job by protecting the pulp chamber, however there is a possibility that when the affected area is probed it results in haemorrhage due to pulp exposure.

You may also find abrasion on dogs with atopic dermatitis due to the mechanical action of chewing on their fur and usually effects the incisors from their constant nibbling. It is important to know that abrasion stems from mechanical wear from a foreign object.