With age, the teeth wear and the biting edges of the front teeth are flattened, making them shorter and all of the same length. Eventually, less and less tooth is displayed, giving an aged look to the mouth.

Generally, the teeth wear slowly, but if a person grinds the teeth (bruxism) wear can be rapid and the amount of tooth worn away may be extensive. Although bruxism is a common problem, it rarely causes tooth loss.

If teeth are worn down, the cause needs to be established. If it is due to a tooth being out of position, it should be corrected. If it is due to bruxism, a removable acrylic splint which covers the teeth should be worn.

Solutions to improving worn teeth are the application of crowns or, if wear is minimal, composite bonding.