Non carious cervical lesions. A review.

Area of Science:

• Dentistry
• Dental Biomaterials
• Biomechanical Engineering

Background:

• Non-carious cervical lesions (NCCL) represent significant hard dental tissue loss at the cement-enamel junction.
• Prevalence is high (85%), with an incidence of 18% in permanent teeth, manifesting as wedge-shaped defects or depressions.
• Etiologies include acid erosion, mechanical abrasion, and tooth flexure from occlusal loads, contributing to therapeutic challenges.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review the classification, etiology, and restorative materials for non-carious cervical lesions (NCCL).
• To highlight the role of biomechanical factors in NCCL development and restoration failure.
• To identify the need for improved restorative strategies for NCCL.

Main Methods:

• Literature review on NCCL classification, prevalence, and incidence.
• Analysis of etiological factors, including acid exposure and biomechanical forces (tooth flexion).
• Evaluation of historical and current restorative materials (amalgam, glass-ionomers, compomers, composites).

Main Results:

• NCCL are classified as erosion, abrasion, or abfraction, often multifactorial.
• Tooth flexure during function and parafunction is a significant contributing factor.
• Restorative materials frequently fail due to persistent etiological factors.

Conclusions:

• The multifactorial etiology of NCCL, particularly biomechanical stress, complicates treatment.
• Current restorative materials show high failure rates, often linked to the original causes of the lesions.
• Further research is essential to develop more durable and reliable restorative therapies for NCCL.