abfraction

noun

ab·​frac·​tion ab-ˈfrak-shən How to pronounce abfraction (audio)
: a mechanism that is postulated to explain loss of tooth enamel and dentin in the part of a tooth between the crown and root in the absence of tooth decay
also : the narrow usually V-shaped area of tooth loss caused by abfraction

Note: Abfraction is postulated to occur when the force generated by occlusion (as during chewing) causes stress to concentrate on certain points of a tooth. This stress results in tooth flexure and leads to the eventual breaking away of hard tissue.

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Cite this Entry

“Abfraction.” Merriam-Webster.com Medical Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/medical/abfraction. Accessed 21 Nov. 2024.

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