Pathology · single question

A patient presents with wedge-shaped cervical lesions at the CEJ on premolars and molars, and notched concavities at the gingival margin consistent with stress concentration from occlusal loading. What is the most likely combined diagnosis?

  1. Erosion and abrasion
  2. Abrasion and abfraction
  3. Attrition and erosion
  4. Abfraction and attrition
Show answer and explanation

Correct answer: B. Abrasion and abfraction

Abfraction refers to tooth structure loss at the cervical region due to tensile and compressive forces from occlusal loading (flexure of the tooth), resulting in characteristic wedge-shaped or notched cervical lesions. Abrasion refers to mechanical wear from external agents such as toothbrush abrasion. Together, abrasion and abfraction commonly produce cervical non-carious lesions (NCCLs). Erosion is chemical dissolution of enamel by acids. Attrition is wear from tooth-to-tooth contact. The original question was incomplete (had duplicate answer options a and c, b and d), so the clinical scenario was constructed to direct to the most appropriate answer.

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