What Is Bone Loss, and When Should I Worry?

Dental bone loss most often happens when you lose a tooth or have it extracted and put nothing in its place. Because the space remains empty, your body reabsorbs the bone beneath the tooth socket. Your dentist in Beaumont, TX, can tell you more about bone loss, including how to prevent it.

Why Does JawBone Material Reabsorb?

Your natural teeth have roots that extend far into your gums and jawbone. And as you bite and chew, this stimulates the bone and causes it to remain healthy. But once your natural tooth and its roots are gone, there’s no longer anything to stimulate growth. As a result, the bone recedes or is ‘reabsorbed’ into the body. This is why your dentist will recommend some type of prosthetic device to replace a missing or extracted tooth. This may come in the form of a dental implant, denture, or other dental device.

Does Dental Bone Loss Cause Problems?

Aside from leaving gaps that affect the appearance of your smile, bone loss will eventually cause other serious problems with facial structure, speech, and the way in which you’re able to bite and chew. These include:

• Shifting and spreading of the surrounding teeth
• Speech impediment
• Open bite (inability to bring the upper and lower teeth together)
• Pain in the jaw
• Premature aging

If left untreated, bone loss that’s severe can cause your facial structure to shift or appear ‘collapsed,’ making you look older than your biological age.

What Can Be Done to Treat Bone Loss?

Dental loss caused by missing or extracted teeth is best treated by the immediate placement of a dental implant. A dental implant uses a post that bonds with the jawbone upon which an artificial tooth is set. This keeps pressure on the bone beneath the tooth and provides enough stimulation to keep the bone from receding.

If bone loss has already begun taking place, your dentist in Beaumont, TX, can still help. In severe situations, you may need a bone graft before you can have a dental implant procedure. But eventually, these treatments will stop additional damage from occurring.

For more information on treating dental bone loss in Beaumont, TX, call Southern Oaks Dental Care today.