Top 6 Causes Of Jawbone Deterioration

Having a healthy jawbone is crucial to supporting your teeth and maintaining your shape. There are many reasons why your jawbone may be deteriorating. Bone loss on the mandibular (lower jawbone) and maxilla (upper jawbone) occurs for various reasons. Fortunately, there is a way of rectifying this problem. A dental specialist like Dominic Thorncroft will take you through a bone grafting procedure to rectify the bone loss. It is vital to understand the causes of bone loss, and this article will discuss six of them.

Tooth Extraction

When you remove a tooth and fail to replace it, the gap left starts to deteriorate. Normally, teeth are attached to the jawbone and work together to perform activities like biting and chewing. Since the teeth stimulate the jawbone, bone loss occurs after tooth extraction when the jawbone can no longer receive the stimulation. Therefore, it starts to break down. The brain sends a signal that a part of the bone is no longer useful and hence the deterioration. Bone loss occurs mostly a year after tooth extraction. Therefore, it is advisable to replace a missing tooth.

Periodontal Disease

Periodontal diseases are common and destroy the alveolar bone. Diseases such as gingivitis or inflammation of the gum tissue cause major damage to the bone and soft tissue supporting your teeth. Once these diseases advance, they lead to the deterioration of the tissue and bone holding the teeth together. Therefore, the alveolar bone loosens, and bone loss occurs.

Sinus Deficiencies

When you remove a molar from the upper jaw, the air pressure in the maxillary sinus causes the resorption of the jawbone. In that case, the sinus enlarges and causes further bone deterioration.

Trauma

If your teeth are broken such that there is nothing left on the surface of the gm, stimulation of bone stops and this leads to bone loss. If you had an accident that led to injury to your teeth or you had a jaw fracture, the trauma may lead to bone loss in the future. Therefore, you may need bone grafting to reverse the impact and promote bone growth.

Misalignment

If you have a condition like malocclusion, you may have a bone loss problem. Malocclusion is the severe misalignment of teeth that may come as a result of injury or tooth loss. If some teeth do not have opposing teeth structures, they may super erupt causing the loss of the underlying bone.

Dentures

During a denture procedure, the dentures are placed on the gum surface. That means the bone underneath does not get stimulated. With time, the lack of stimulation causes the resorbing of the bone. Remember, dentures rely on the bone for support, eating, and speaking. Once there is bone loss, the dentures become loose, and you may have to replace them. It may be a good idea to choose supported dentures to help stimulate the bone. Additionally, maintain proper oral care and repair dentures for better oral health.

Summary

These are six causes of jawbone deterioration. It is crucial to ensure proper dental health and visit your dentist regularly. If you have a missing tooth, Dr. Dominic Thorncroft will help you fix it to prevent bone loss.