Dental Attrition
Pronunciation: ah-TRISH-un
Physiological or pathological loss of tooth structure through direct tooth-to-tooth contact during occlusal or parafunctional activity.
Full Definition
Dental attrition is the mechanical wear of tooth enamel and dentine resulting from contact between opposing teeth during mastication, swallowing, or parafunctional habits such as bruxism. Physiological attrition produces gradual wear facets with advancing age; pathological attrition results in rapid, severe tooth shortening. Editors must distinguish attrition carefully from 'erosion' (chemical dissolution), 'abrasion' (wear from external agents such as toothbrush or food), and 'abfraction' (wedge-shaped cervical lesions). All four terms appear in tooth wear assessment reports and must be used precisely.
Usage
Usage note: Use 'dental attrition' or simply 'attrition' in clinical writing. Avoid the lay term 'worn teeth' in formal reports. Do not use as a synonym for erosion or abrasion.
In Context
- "Generalised attrition of the posterior dentition was attributed to longstanding nocturnal bruxism." — Restorative dentistry clinical assessment
- "The Tooth Wear Evaluation System distinguished between erosion, attrition, and abrasion components in each patient." — Tooth wear clinical research article