Excessive attrition of teeth

This code describes the pathological wearing away of tooth structure due to tooth-to-tooth contact, beyond what is considered normal physiological wear. It results in the loss of enamel, dentin, and potentially cementum, leading to reduced tooth height and altered occlusal surfaces. This condition is distinct from erosion or abrasion, which involve other causative factors.

Use this code when documentation clearly indicates excessive tooth wear primarily caused by masticatory forces or parafunctional habits like bruxism. Supporting documentation should specify the etiology as attrition and describe the extent or severity of the wear. This code is appropriate when the primary diagnosis is the excessive attrition itself, rather than an underlying cause.

• Differentiate from abrasion (wear from foreign objects) and erosion (chemical dissolution); these have distinct codes.
• Consider an additional code for the underlying cause if known, such as G47.63 for sleep-related bruxism, sequenced after the attrition code.
• Ensure documentation specifies "excessive" or "pathological" attrition to justify this code over normal physiological wear.