Home / General dentistry / Tooth wear
Tooth wear · Wandsworth Common, SW12
Teeth that look shorter, flatter or more see-through at the edges are usually wearing faster than they should. We find the cause first, protect what you have, then rebuild what has been lost.
Common causes
Grinding, acid and abrasion
Protection
Night guards from £395
Rebuilding
Bonding, onlays and same-day crowns
Led by
Dr Adam White, Clinical Director
Why teeth wear
Tooth wearing against tooth, usually from grinding or clenching, and often at night without you knowing.
Acid softening and dissolving enamel. Fizzy drinks, fruit juice, wine and stomach acid from reflux are the usual sources.
Something rubbing on the teeth. Brushing too hard with a firm brush is the most common cause.
What we do
We look at the pattern of wear, your bite, your diet and your habits, because treatment only lasts if the cause is dealt with.
A night guard made to fit you, and simple changes to diet and brushing, stop more tooth being lost.
Composite is bonded to worn edges to restore length and shape, usually without drilling healthy tooth.
Heavily worn back teeth can be covered and strengthened, often in one visit with our same-day CEREC system.
Tell us if your front teeth look shorter than they used to, if edges are chipping or looking glassy, if teeth are becoming sensitive, or if you wake with a tired jaw or a headache. Wear is slow and painless at first, which is why it is often well advanced before anyone notices.
Dr Adam White leads this work at Bellevue. He holds a Master’s in Prosthodontics from King’s College London, the branch of dentistry concerned with rebuilding teeth. His own guide explains the options in more detail: night guards, bonding or same-day crowns.

These are guide fees. Composite bonding is priced after an assessment, and you will have exact costs in writing before any treatment begins.
Bellevue Dental is a private practice and we welcome patients with private dental insurance. Treatment plans from £1,000 can be spread with finance through our partner Tabeo, subject to status. Check your eligibility with Tabeo. The full list of fees is on our fees page.
There are three main causes: grinding or clenching, which wears tooth against tooth; acid from food, drink or reflux, which softens and dissolves enamel; and abrasion from something rubbing on the teeth, such as brushing too hard. Most people have a mixture.
Yes. Lost tooth can be replaced with composite bonding, onlays or crowns, restoring the length and shape of the teeth. The cause of the wear is dealt with first, so the new work lasts.
If you grind or clench in your sleep, a night guard made to fit your teeth takes the load instead of your enamel. It protects natural teeth and any restorations.
Enamel does not grow back, so wear cannot reverse by itself. It can be stopped from getting worse, and the teeth can be rebuilt.
It depends on how many teeth are involved. Night guards are from £395 and a same-day CEREC crown is from £1,250. After an assessment you will have a written plan with exact costs.
Book a visit
A first conversation is the easiest way to find out what is possible. Book online, send us a WhatsApp or call, and we will find a time that suits you.