Noncarious cervical lesions (NCCLs) are small notches or wedge-shaped tooth defects near the gumline among the most common dental problems affecting adults. Nevertheless, they remain poorly understood. 

With support from a new grant from the National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research (NIDCR), Dr. Ariene Leme Kraus is leading a research project that aims to investigate how these painful lesions develop and progress.

NCCLs can cause lifelong discomfort and tooth damage and affect many adults. While factors like aggressive brushing, dietary acids, or tooth grinding are thought to contribute, these explanations don’t fully account for why and how the lesions form, or why some teeth are affected, and others are not. As a result, effective prevention and long-term treatment are difficult.

Dr. Leme Kraus’s study focuses on uncovering what happens inside the tooth itself as these lesions develop. “We suspect that changes in the structural proteins and minerals of the tooth, especially in the dentin, are making these areas more vulnerable to breakdown,” said Dr. Kraus. “If we can understand what those changes are, we can create better strategies for stopping the damage before it begins.”

Her team will analyze the composition and biomechanics of affected and healthy teeth using advanced imaging and nanoscale testing methods. The goal is to determine how changes in the tooth’s organic matrix may weaken its ability to absorb stress and resist damage.

The findings could have wide-reaching implications for clinical dentistry. By identifying the microscopic, compositional and structural warning signs of these lesions, this research could lay the groundwork for new diagnostic tools and personalized treatment or prevention strategies. Practically, that means more durable restorations, fewer retreatments, and better outcomes for patients.

“This work will help us move from treating symptoms to understanding causes,” Dr. Leme Kraus explained. “And that shifting from a restorative to a patient focused preventative plan is key to providing long-term relief for patients living with this condition.”

Dr. Leme Kraus is an assistant professor in the Department of Operative Dentistry at the University of Iowa.

Research reported on this website is being supported by the NIDCR/NIH under Award Number R03 DE034442-01A1. The content is solely the responsibility of the authors and does not necessarily represent the official views of the National Institutes of Health.