Dental erosion and its implications on the oral health

Abstract

The concepts of buccal health promotion and the increase of life expectancy have contributed for the highest maintenance of dental elements. Thus, with the new alimentary and behavioral habits the irreversible loss of dental hard tissue of non-carious origin has increased substantially, being divided in attrition, erosion and abrasion. The dental erosion is a chronic pathology defined as the superficial loss of dental hard tissue as a result of a chemical process not involving bacteria caused by acid that could be intrinsic, extrinsic or unknown etiology, causing irreversible loss of mineral tissue and dentinal hypersensitivity. The aim of this paper is to present a review of literature on the main factors that can cause the injuries of erosion, including the different aspects related to its etiology, classification, diagnosis, prevention and treatment. Key words: Tooth erosion. Tooth demineralization. Oral health.