Defined as physiological wearing away of tooth structure.

This phenomenon is more physiological than pathological

🛑SITES OF OCCURRENCE-

• occlusal surface
• incisal surface
• proximal surface

It is also associated with the aging process. More the older the person gets more it regresses

🛑MAIN CAUSE- Tooth to Tooth contact during Mastication

• It is seen in deciduous as well as in permanent dentition.

🛑Types of attrition

🔸Physiological attrition: Attrition which occurs progressively during normal aging process as a result of masticatory occlusion. Usually a slow process through out life .

🔸Pathological attrition: This is a severe form of attrition that occurs as a result of abnormalities in occlusion ,chewing pattern and structural defects in teeth .

Examples are bruxism or clenching

🛑AETIOLOGY

• Abnormal chewing habits: Parafunctional chewing habits like Bruxism and chronic persistent chewing of coarse foods or other substances like tobacco.
• In other occupations workers are exposed to an atmosphere of abrasive dusts e.g. silica
• Amelogenesis imperfecta and dentinogenesis imperfecta in which the hardness of enamel and dentine is reduced and such teeth become more prone to attrition and is seen in children

🛑Clinical presentation –

• Appearance of small polished facet on the cusp tip /ridge or slight flattening of the incisal edge
• Sensitivity and pain : attrition may be entirely asymptomatic or there may be dentine hypersensitivity.
• Tooth discoloration : attrition and erosion of the enamel exposes inner and darker dentine giving a yellower appearance
• Compromised periodontal support leading to drifting of teeth
• Altered occlusion due to decreasing occlusal vertical dimension

Men usually have more attrition than women as a result of greater masticatory force .

Also variations are seen with the coarseness in diet and chewing tobacoo

Sources -textbook of oral pathology – shafers, slide share , pictures – google photos.