What Causes Bone Loss Around Your Teeth?

By Author: James Franklin
Total Articles: 257
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Bone loss around the teeth is a common consequence of tooth loss and chronic periodontists. Periodontists happens when bacteria slowly eats away the underlying jawbone and the periodontal ligaments connecting the bone to the tooth. Among these two, the most common cause of bone loss is tooth loss that is not replaced, especially with multiple teeth.

Jawbone is preserved because of pressure and the stimulus provided by chewing. When these two things are removed because of tooth loss, the bone will reabsorb into the body. During the first year following tooth extraction, about 25 percent of the bone is already lost and will continue on as the extracted tooth is left un replaced.
This bone loss happens in the bone that surrounds and supports the tooth, which is called the alveolar bone. Alveolar bone creates the ridges where the teeth are embedded. These ridges can atrophy horizontally and vertically. Replacing teeth with dentures will not solve the problem because dentures exert at most 10 percent chewing pressure on the bone than natural teeth.

Removing the molars in the upper jaw can lead to more re-absorption ...
... of the bone because of the expansion of the sinus cavity. Without any teeth, air pressure in the sinus cavity causes resorption of the bone that line the sinuses. There are other causes of bone loss around the teeth, although they are not as common as tooth loss:

• Misaligned teeth. This creates a situation where chewing is not normal, so the needed stimulus is lost to the bone.
• Infection. Infection can damage the bone, creating bone loss.
• Face tumor. A large tumor in the face might require its removal, including some parts of the jaw.

Bone loss is very preventable, and can be done by giving the jawbone much needed tooth replacement. This replacement should come with a root that will exert the same pressure as any natural teeth. Do this immediately following an extraction by replacing one tooth with dental implants or a fixed implant-supported denture or bridge.

A one-tooth implant or a dental bridge that comes with three or fourth teeth supported by two implants can give a chewing power that is 99 percent of the force of a natural bite. A denture placed with dental implants gives about 75 percent of the normal biting force and should already help in preventing bone loss. To learn more about bone loss and dental implants, contact your dentist now.