As we grow older, the nerves of our teeth begin to weaken, and it’s harder for us to feel our teeth. In some cases, we won’t know that a particular tooth has already decayed and will need to be pulled out. However, wisdom tooth extractions, trauma, and other dental operations can cause bone loss. For most older individuals, dentures are a great way of compensating broken teeth, but they can cause bone loss. The slow but gradual deterioration of your jaw can severely impede the ability to chew and speak as it limits the range of movement of your jaw. So how do we treat such a condition?

Causes Of Bone Loss

Several different factors could lead to bone loss. Whether it’s chronic periodontitis, the subsequent loss of teeth from old age, or bacteria that are gradually chipping away at the integrity of your teeth, it can become a problem if not given the proper attention.

Buildup Of Bacteria

Some conditions, such as osteomyelitis, can infect the bone marrow and the structure of the jaw. This type of infection can lead to inflammation while impeding the flow of blood towards the bone. Treating osteomyelitis usually requires medication and the removal of specific bone structures. If you’re anxious that you might get this, don’t worry, it’s quite rare.

No worries, a bone graft will help in regrowing the infected region.

The Use of Dentures

For most people who are now senior citizens, getting dentures might seem like a suitable way of compensating for old and decayed teeth, but it can cause more harm than good. While dentures can help in the chewing process, these are only artificial means of chewing, which means that the jaws are not stimulated.

However, some dentures can anchor on your teeth, which can give an adequate amount of support.

Extraction

In some cases, when an adult tooth is removed but is subsequently not replaced, this can result in bone loss. Naturally, our teeth are rooted down in our jawbone, which our teeth coordinate with your jaw while we chew and bite.

When a tooth does go missing, the alveolar bone, which is a region of your jawbone that acts as a bridge for your teeth and your jaw, won’t get the necessary interaction, which can lead the loss of integrity. Since the body will deem the jawbone as something that is not essential in the chewing process, it will deteriorate.

The amount and extent of deterioration will vary depending on the individual. Most of the time, bone loss occurs in the span of the first eighteen months right after extraction and will continue throughout most of the person’s lifetime.

Trauma

It’s no surprise that accidents and physical force can cause injuries to our bodies. Our teeth and bones are quite susceptible to impacts and trauma. When teeth are dislodged and broken from biting or some other traumatic activity, bone stimulation stops. Usually, fractures can also lead to bone loss.

If this is the case, bone grafting is an effective solution to this problem.

Preventive Measures

Most people might think that bone loss is an irreversible process; there are different ways of remedying this condition. Here are some of the solutions to such situations:

Dental Implants

Since the loss of a natural tooth can lead to bone loss, it is imperative to replace that affected tooth with a naturally working tooth as soon as possible. A replacement tooth that does has a root will be able to exert some amount of natural pressure to your alveolar bone like a natural tooth, which can negate bone loss. In fact, around two dental implants can increase the chewing function of individuals by 99%.

Bone Grafting

Another way of preventing the deterioration of your jawbone is bone grafting. That is usually done when a good portion of your jawbone is already lost. This process is typically a precursor to a dental implant replacement. In most cases, bone grafting is needed to provide a proper amount of height to the ridge. The same can be said when replacing molars since they do need a bit of width as well.

If you’re worried that your jawbone might not be able to regrow, you won’t have to be anxious about that. A bone graft can help accelerate the regrowing process, which will then eventually replace the bone graft with a natural healthy bone structure. There is a variety of different equipment and materials used to expedite the process.

Bone loss is more common than what most people think. Most of the time, this is caused by a simple tooth extraction or an injury. Although this can be easily remedied by a multitude of preventive measures and solutions, it’s still important to be aware that bone loss can be caused by a variety of different ailments and conditions.

Of course, it’s best to consult with a medically-certified professional periodontist first before making any final decision. Whether you need a wisdom tooth removal, tooth implant, or bone grafting, having a professional help you with the process can ensure that any type of modifications can be installed correctly and efficiently.

Meta Title: Bone Loss: How It Happens in Your Jaw

Meta Description: Did you just get a tooth extracted? Here are some excellent reasons that you should get a dental implant or a bone graft as soon as possible.

Tags: bone loss,jaw,bacteria,periodontitis,chronic,problem,oldage,teeth,tooth,extraction,implants