Toothbrush abrasions and noncarious cervical lesions: evolving concepts

Toothbrush abrasion at the cervical areas of teeth is generally thought to be a result of frequent or forceful toothbrushing, faulty or vigorous technique, filament stiffness or design, dominant hand dexterity, or abrasive dentifrices. However, a review of the evidence-based literature cannot conclusively establish any one factor as the primary etiology of cervical abrasions because of inherent methodological limitations and conflicting results. Rather, a variety of factors related to toothbrushing may act in concert with dental erosion and, possibly, occlusal loading in the creation of noncarious cervical lesions. Individual variation also may make some individuals more susceptible to development and may modify the progression of those lesions. Individual variations may involve oral and dental anatomy, periodontal status or phenotype, and periodontal disease history and treatment. Further research is needed to clearly assess the interaction of all those factors in the development of cervical lesions. Therefore, awareness of a multifactorial etiology in noncarious cervical lesions may help the clinician to formulate an appropriate treatment plan for the patient.