Best Treatment for Dental Bone Loss
Bone loss is one of the amazing things that our bodies can do normally. Either from tooth extraction, orthodontic adjustments, or diseases, your jawbone no longer receives stimulation which leads to bone loss.
How Does Bone Loss Occur in Teeth?
Your jawbone has a messaging signal called osseointegration, picking up signals from stimulation coming from the pressure whenever we chew, bite, or talk.
These signals continue to rebuild and strengthen our jawbones. When we lose a natural tooth, the stimulation stops, and your body now thinks that that bone is no longer needed.
Symptoms of Bone Loss
Bone loss in teeth happens gradually and can result in these symptoms:
- Ill-fitted dentures.
- Shifting teeth.
- Facial structure collapses.
- Wrinkles in the mouth area.
- Loose teeth.
- Lips sinking inward.
- Discomfort when chewing.
- Causes of bone loss in teeth.
Tooth loss is a primary trigger of bone resorption. Other conditions also make bone resorption a risk factor. These include:
- Periodontal disease- Bacteria eat away the jawbone and periodontal ligaments that hold the teeth. As the damage spreads, the bacteria in plaque in the periodontal pockets will loosen the teeth and lead to tooth loss.
- Osteoporosis- Another cause of bone loss in the jawbone is osteoporosis. Your bones will get brittle due to age and low calcium intake.
- Facial injury- Trauma on the facial bone structure can result in changes to the bone cells responsible for the breakdown and rebuilding of bones.
The Impact of Bone Loss on Your Health
Bone loss can significantly alter your appearance. Your facial muscles and skin will shrink, which leads to wrinkles, and your lips will sink inwards. You will look older than you are your age.
How to Slow Down Bone Loss in Your Teeth
Bone loss is natural with aging. Bone loss due to tooth loss, injury, and disease is premature and can be avoided. Here are some treatments:
- Replace missing teeth- Dental implants are the only tooth-replacement option that mimic the stimulation done by your natural tooth roots. A titanium post placed surgically below the gum line functions as the tooth root providing stimulation.
- Gingivitis treatments- Gingivitis is the inflammation of your gums and the first step of gum disease. At this stage, the gum disease is still reversible. To prevent the progression the plaque buildup must be removed. Your dentist might conduct a type of professional cleaning method called scaling and root planing. The root surfaces below the gums are cleaned to prevent the bacteria from getting stuck.
- Bone grafting- If you have bone loss from tooth loss, your dentist may recommend a procedure called bone grafting. This procedure will replace jawbone making it suitable for a tooth replacement. Bone grafting is done with a dental implant procedure.
- Lifestyle changes- Bone resorption is a shared condition of osteoporosis and periodontal disease. They share the same risk factors, such as age, genetics, hormonal change, smoking, calcium, and vitamin D deficiency.
There are some that you can control, like smoking and vitamin deficiency.
- Good oral hygiene- Brushing and flossing are the foundation of good oral health. Make them part of your daily routine.
- Vitamin-rich diet- Nourish your bones with a vitamin-rich diet to help you maintain good bone health.
These foods and beverages are recommended for healthy bones:
- Dairy products (milk, cheese, yogurt, etc.).
- Sardines and salmon with bones.
- Spinach and other green leafy vegetables.
- Tomatoes and red peppers.
- Papaya, pineapples, bananas, and oranges.