1) Bulimia and Acid Reflux- they are very destructive to the enamel. Gradually they wear away the enamel from the teeth at the gumline and sometimes at the back of the teeth where it is not visible. Teeth will slowly get thinner and thinner and damage very easily. This not only provokes esthetic problems - it causes harsh functional problems as well. If this destructive process is not corrected the bite can fall down and cause severe jaw problems. If it is corrected soon enough, bonding can be done to cover bare areas of teeth. If more than 25% of the tooth has damaged, porcelain veneers need to be designed to protect the underlying dentin and correct the bite problems that may have occurred. Eventually, the acid level in the mouth has to be regulated by a gastroenterologist.
2) Swimmers - swimming in overly chlorinated pools can erode the enamel in people who swim daily. We have seen the harshest cases of this process, so we advise that you have your teeth checked regularly and letting your dentist know that you swim in a chlorinated pool. Fluoride treatments can be given to help keep the teeth strong and swimming with a well adapted and custom fitted mouth guard can lessen contact of teeth to chlorine. 3) Enamel/Dentin Hypoplasia - restricted enamel hypoplasia refers to individual teeth that have hypoplastic, hypocalcified or hypomineralized areas on a tooth resulting from infection or trauma. It can differ from a mild to a severe form in which pitting and irregularity may be wide in the crown. Developmental (amelogenesis imperfecta), systemic turbulences and nutritional deficiencies during childhood or metabolic disturbances during prenatal or neonatal life can cause hypoplasia. Tetracycline experience, excessive ingestion of fluoride and high body temperature (fever) has also been occupied in enamel defects. Treatment options comprise crowns and veneers (if enough enamel remains) to protect the teeth from chipping and breaking as well as to improve overall esthetics, decrease sensitivity and reinstate function. 4) Soda/Citrus Drink Overuse - one of the ingredients in soda drinks (diet Coke, Pepsi, Mountain Dew, etc) is phosphoric acid that is caustic to enamel. Citrus drinks have citric acid in them which is caustic to enamel as well. Rinsing the mouth in orange juice or soda, especially when sipping it slowly and allowing it to stay in the mouth too long can cause the enamel to slowly wear. Squeezing on lemon wedge is also a way to crashing the enamel on your teeth. If too much breakdown of enamel happens, we have to consider treatment options to reconstruct the lost tooth surface and the ensuing sensitivity, loss of function and esthetics. Gapped Teeth If the shape of the individual teeth is correct and they are symmetric to their identical corresponding item in the arch, with Invisalign they can be brought close together and easily hold so they won’t decline. Though, if the spacing is too harsh or if the teeth are not good-looking to begin with, porcelain veneers are compulsory to correct this defect.
| 
