Occlusal wear. A follow-up study of 18 subjects with extensively worn dentitions

Eighteen patients with moderate to severe dental wear were re-examined 6-10 years after a treatment period that included use of occlusal splints at night. The splints were used with various intensities for an average of 2 years. The methods of evaluation comprised a questionnaire, clinical examination, comparison of dental casts, salivary analysis, and bite force measurements. The changes in dental wear during the follow-up period were small, the typical finding being an increase of facets but no measurable reduction of tooth length. The results indicate that many variables apart from occlusal parafunctions, such as acid regurgitation and salivary and dietary factors, may contribute to loss of tooth substance diagnosed as dental wear. In most patients, the continuing wear process was slow after long-term treatment with occlusal splints.