Dental erosion: part 2. The management of dental erosion.

Dental erosion is an important cause of tooth tissue loss in both children and adults. An earlier article (Mahoney and Kilpatrick, 2003) discussed the prevalence and causes of dental erosion. This second article will discuss the management of this condition which is often complicated by the multifactorial nature of tooth wear. Management of dental erosion can be considered in three phases: immediate, interim and long-term. Immediate management includes the early diagnosis of dental erosion, recording the status of the disorder at baseline and implementing appropriate preventive strategies including those aimed at reducing the acidic exposure as well as those that attempt to increase an individual's resistance to erosive tooth tissue loss. Interim and long-term treatment includes the provision of temporary diagnostic restorations, ongoing monitoring of disease progression, definitive restorative work where appropriate, and modification and reinforcement of preventive advice. Each phase will be discussed in light of current evidence.