National Board Dental Hygiene Examination (NBDHE) Dental Hygienist Practice Test

Wedge-shaped lesions found along the cervical margin of teeth are referred to as abfraction lesions. These lesions occur due to mechanical forces and stresses on teeth, often exacerbated by occlusal loading. The term ‘abfraction’ describes the loss of tooth structure that appears as a V-shaped notch at the gum line, typically resulting from flexural fatigue of the enamel and dentin caused by biting forces.

This type of lesion is distinct from other forms of tooth wear such as attrition, which refers to enamel wear due to tooth-to-tooth contact, usually from grinding or clenching; erosion, which involves the chemical dissolution of tooth structure due to acid exposure; and abrasion, which is wear from external factors like aggressive tooth brushing or the use of abrasive substances. Understanding these distinctions is vital for dental hygienists to effectively diagnose and provide appropriate treatment recommendations for patients exhibiting these lesions.