Enamel Wear and Acid Erosion Overview
Enamel wear (acid erosion)
Enamel wear is a progressive, multifactorial condition that may have lasting effects.1 While enamel is equipped to respond to normal daily acid challenges, frequent and prolonged acid exposure can lead to progressive demineralisation. In this acidic environment, enamel may be unable to remineralise quickly enough between challenges to avoid permanent damage over time.1,2
With changes in diet and lifestyle, and increasing life expectancy, enamel wear is becoming an increasingly significant challenge in the long-term management of dental health.3 Erosive damage may compromise dental health for the rest of the patient’s lifetime, potentially requiring repeated, expensive and complex restoration.3
Enamel wear and acid erosion are common problems4,5
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Enamel wear statistics
Up to 1 in 3 young adults in Europe have significant enamel wear*4
*Data from 3,187 subjects aged 18–35 across 7 EU countries who participated in the ESCARCEL study (supported by GSK)
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Acid erosion in the UK
77% of UK adults have signs of enamel wear*5
*Data from 5,654 dentate adults who participated in the 2009 Adult Dental Health Survey
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Enamel wear effects
Potential patient impact: Long-term enamel wear can lead to a loss of enamel surface features, yellow appearance due to enamel translucency, occlusal cupping and dentine hypersensitivity6
Read more about enamel wear
Impact on patient quality of life
Find out about the impact enamel wear has on patients’ daily lives.
