Bone loss is a serious dental issue that can have major repercussions like gum recession, tooth loss, and loosening of teeth. However, if you know the possible causes of bone loss in teeth, you can easily prevent it or opt for efficient treatment options. So, what causes bone loss in teeth? Keep reading the blog to learn about the causes of bone loss in teeth.
What is Dental Bone Loss and How Does It Happen?
Dental bone loss refers to the gradual deterioration of the jawbone tissue that supports the teeth.
Osteoblasts in our bones get signals from stimulation through our body motions. The pressure applied to our teeth when we bite, chew, or speak stimulates our jaws. Nevertheless, the stimulation ends when we lose a natural tooth, leading the body to believe that the teeth-supporting bones are no longer necessary.
So, when a tooth is lost, the bone is no longer stimulated, which leads to resorption or bone disintegration.
What Are The Causes of Bone Loss in Teeth?
Here are a few possible causes of bone loss in teeth:
Trauma
Bone stimulation ends when a tooth is knocked out or fractured so much that there is no longer any biting surface below the gum line, causing loss of jaw bone. Jaw fractures, teeth knocked out due to accident or injury, and teeth with a history of trauma cause bone loss years after the initial trauma.
Tooth Extraction
Natural teeth facilitate bone formation by biting and chewing, among other actions. When a tooth is removed but not replaced, the affected area of the jawbone is not stimulated as much and begins to degenerate and resorb.
Periodontal Disease
Aside from extractions, the primary cause of bone loss in our jaws is periodontal disease. Bacteria in your mouth can grow if you don’t take care of your dental health. These bacteria can produce acid that erodes your bone by eating away at any food residue that is left between teeth, behind bridges, or around implants.
Dentures or Bridgework
Loose dentures that are positioned above the gum line may not always directly stimulate the jawbone beneath them. Instead, they rely on the existing bone structure. This lack of stimulation over time may lead to bone resorption and degradation.
How Can You Treat Bone Loss in Teeth?
There are several causes of bone loss in teeth, and only your dentist can determine the precise cause and the kind of treatment required to treat the issue.
Nevertheless, below are two treatment options to treat dental bone loss:
-
Bone Grafting
Bone grafting is one of the treatments for substantial bone loss. During bone grafting, your dentist will surgically replace lost bone to help the jaw produce new bone cells and prepare them for tooth replacement procedures.
Bone grafting will stop bone degradation, restore its function, and encourage the formation of new bone in damaged places.
-
Teeth Replacement
Replacing your missing tooth can help restore your lost bone. You can opt for dental implants, which is one of the most successful methods of replacing missing teeth. Dental implants will help reattach bone cells and reconstruction of your jawbone by positioning a titanium post beneath the gum line.
Final Word!
Dental bone loss can cause severe damage to your dental health but you can prevent it if you know the root cause of it. What causes bone loss in teeth? Dental trauma, dental extractions, etc., can cause bone loss in teeth.
Learn more about dental bone loss by consulting our expert dentist, Dr. Viraj Shah, at Integrity Dental. Call us at (586) 977-0300 to book your appointment today!