Abfraction

Heavy occlusal forces that repetitively flex the tooth structure over time, like bruxism, can cause cervical loss of tooth structure.¹⁶ This process, known as abfraction, produces deep, narrow, wedge-shaped defects on the buccocervical aspect of the teeth.^7,16 It usually involves a single premolar or molar tooth with the adjacent teeth remaining unaffected.^7,16 These defects can mimic abrasion, erosion, and cervical caries but solitary tooth involvement and subgingival defect occurrence can help differentiate abfraction from the other entities.¹⁶