How do You Fix Dental Bone Loss in Teeth
Dental bone loss can be a distressing problem to experience. Manifesting in a number of different ways, dental bone loss can cause loose or shifting teeth, subsequent bite problems, and even tooth loss. As the bone continues to recede, it can also cause changes to one’s facial structure around the mouth, which can be particularly difficult as it effects one’s appearance.
While dental bone loss cannot be fully reversed, there are indeed things that can be done to slow down bone loss and even help regenerate some new tissue.
Causes of Dental Bone Loss
Gum Disease
The leading cause of dental bone loss is gum disease, a multi-stage, progressive disease that begins when gum tissues are infected by built up plaque and tartar on one’s teeth and, left untreated, begins to infect the hard tissues of the bone that the gums are connected to. Over time, progressing gum disease can cause extensive damage to all of the tissues in one’s mouth, including the teeth, gums, tendons, ligaments, and bone.
Missing Teeth
While the extraction or loss of a tooth does not result automatically in bone loss, it can be a real contributor to bone loss over time if the tooth is not replaced. This is because the connection between teeth and the bone that surrounds them is highly symbiotic: both need each other to function as they should. If a tooth goes missing, so too do its dental roots, which are lodged deep down into the jawbone. These roots regularly send signals to the jawbone that its support is needed to assist in absorbing the impact of everyday activities like biting and chewing. When the roots disappear and that signal is no longer communicated, the jawbone gets the message that it is no longer needed; eventually, it begins to recede due to simple non-use.
Trauma, Injury, or Health-Related Causes
While less common, trauma or injury can also contribute to dental bone loss. So too can health-related causes or even vitamin and mineral deficiencies. Consistent lack of calcium, for example, can lead to osteoporosis over time; this weakening of bones throughout the body also extends to the jawbone, resulting in dental bone loss.
How to Treat Dental Bone Loss
The first stage of gum disease, referred to as gingivitis, is reversible, but it must be caught in time, which is why it is very important to keep up with regular biannual visits to the dentist’s office for thorough cleanings by the dental hygienist. She or he is your best ally in the fight against gum disease and dental bone loss, so be sure to keep those appointments!
Replacing missing teeth with dental implants can also have a positive impact, as can making meaningful lifestyle changes, like ensuring proper nutrition and practicing good daily oral hygiene. Avoiding the use of nicotine and excessive alcohol consumption are two very positive steps that can be taken; ensuring proper levels of calcium and Vitamin D can also be helpful.
For those who have already suffered some degree of bone loss, bone grafting can be an option to build back some tissues and begin the process of regenerating healthy new bone tissue, as well. If you have experienced dental bone loss and would like to start the work of either rebuilding it or simply preserving what you have left, give our office a call today.