Minimally Invasive Adhesive Rehabilitation for a Patient With Tooth Erosion: Seven-year Follow-up

Area of Science:

• Dentistry
• Restorative Dentistry
• Orthodontics

Background:

• Tooth wear is a complex dental issue with multiple causes.
• Erosion from acidic substances, like lemons, can lead to significant tooth structure loss.
• Restoring esthetics and function in young patients with severe tooth wear presents clinical challenges.

Observation:

• A young patient presented with severe tooth wear and short maxillary incisors due to habitual lemon sucking.
• The primary etiological factor identified was chronic erosion from the acidic fruit.
• The patient's chief complaint was the esthetic impact of the worn teeth.

Findings:

• A combined orthodontic and restorative approach was employed.
• Orthodontic treatment increased the vertical dimension of occlusion, creating space for restorations.
• Direct composite resin restorations were used on posterior and anterior teeth, establishing balanced occlusion.
• Scanning electron microscopy evaluated restorations up to 12 months.
• A seven-year clinical follow-up demonstrated excellent maintenance of esthetic and functional results.

Implications:

• This case highlights the importance of identifying and managing etiological factors in tooth wear.
• Combined orthodontic and restorative treatments can effectively rehabilitate young patients with erosion-induced tooth wear.
• Durable esthetic and functional outcomes are achievable with appropriate treatment planning and execution.