Abfraction Theory — NDEB AFK MCQ
Instant feedback + full explanation. One question, done properly.
Educational content. Not a substitute for clinical judgement or local policy.
Reveal the answer and explanation
Correct answer: D — Loss of tooth structure at the cervical area due to flexural stress from occlusal loading (biomechanical theory)
Abfraction is the loss of tooth structure at the cervical (CEJ) region theorised to result from flexural stress concentration at the tooth neck during eccentric occlusal loading (non-axial forces). The theory proposes that lateral bending forces cause tensile stress at the CEJ, disrupting enamel prism bonds and creating wedge-shaped (V-shaped) lesions. The contribution of abfraction (vs abrasion, erosion, or their combination) to cervical lesions remains debated, as no single mechanism fully explains all non-carious cervical lesions (NCCLs).
Reference: Heymann – Sturdevant's Art and Science of Operative Dentistry, 7th ed., 2019