Is Dental Bone Loss Serious?
Bone loss can be the result of several causes, but the most common cause of bone loss is from a missing tooth or several teeth which have not been replaced.
A natural tooth root is embedded in the jawbone and helps stimulate bone growth through chewing and biting. When the missing tooth is not replaced, the jawbone no longer receives this stimulation, causing the bone to atrophy and resorb.
Without a replacement tooth or an appropriate dental solution, 25% of the bone is lost after the first year of a tooth extraction and will just continue to deteriorate.
Most Common Causes for Bone Loss
The most common causes for jawbone loss include:
Tooth extractions- A natural tooth stimulates bone growth through the pressures of biting and chewing. When a tooth is extracted and not replaced, that exact portion of the jawbone no longer receives the necessary stimulation and begins to deteriorate and resorb.
Gum disease- Gum infections damage soft tissue and destroy the bone structure that supports your teeth.
Dental plaque is the primary cause of tooth decay. Plaque is easily preventable with daily brushing and flossing. If left unchecked it will irritate the gums, causing them to become red, inflamed, swollen and bleed easily.
If gum disease is left untreated it will progress into the next stage of gum disease, where the supporting gum tissue and bone that holds your teeth in place begin to deteriorate. The progressive loss of bone will lead to the loosening and loss of teeth.
Dentures or bridgework- Traditional dentures that rest on top of the gums do not provide any direct stimulation to the jawbone. This lack of stimulation will cause the bone to resorb and atrophy, making it more difficult to eat and speak properly as the dentures become loose. If left untreated, bone loss can become so severe that your dentures will no longer stay in place, and you may require a new set to be made.
Bridge supported dentures which use adjacent teeth for support can provide adequate stimulation to preserve the bone. The portion that the bridge spans where there are missing teeth, will receive no direct stimulation and can still result in bone loss.
Trauma- If a tooth is knocked out or damaged, jawbone loss may occur. Common types of trauma are usually a sport-related injury, including jaw fractures and knocked out teeth.
Misalignment- Bone loss will occur from bite misalignment when your teeth are no longer providing stimulation from the contact with the opposing teeth. Other misalignment issues, including TMJ jaw joint problems, wisdom teeth erupting, and normal wear-and-tear can hinder natural activities such as chewing and biting.
Treatment for Bone Loss
Bone loss can occur for several reasons, and your dentist can provide you with the exact cause and the type of dental treatment needed to prevent further loss.
Practicing good, at-home, oral hygiene improves your chances of preventative treatment, including brushing twice a day, flossing once a day, and visiting your dentist every six months.
In severe cases of bone loss, bone grafting can be performed to replace missing bone and to promote the growth of new bone in that location, positioning you for a successful dental implant solution.