This post from Alaska Premier Dental Group looks at bone recession, which is common among people who have lost one or more of their teeth. The bone loss occurs because the blood supply and stimulation needed for maintaining healthy bone is gone.
Let’s look at the most common causes of jaw bone recession:
Extracted Teeth
Bone is living tissue and needs stimulation to stay healthy and retain its size and density. Biting, chewing, talking and all the other normal mouth functions keep the portion of the bone surrounding the tooth root healthy. When a tooth is extracted, the bone that used to anchor the tooth root recedes as if it understands that it is no longer needed.
Gum Infection
A gum infection can result when gum inflammation goes untreated and progresses to periodontitis. With periodontitis, the gums pull away from the teeth creating pockets which provide the perfect breeding ground for the harmful infection.
Abscessed Tooth
An abscess is a pocket of infection that occurs in the nerve and roots of a tooth. As the infection attacks the tooth and bone tissue it creates a space that fills with pus. There are several treatments for a tooth abscess including antibiotics to kill the infection, a root canal, or extraction, if needed.
If you would like to replace a missing tooth with an implant, but don’t have enough bone at the implant site, you might be a candidate for bone grafting. Bone grafting may sound like major oral surgery but it is really a routine procedure performed in a dental office.
Dental implants from Alaska Premier Dental Group can prevent bone recession. They are among our restorative dentistry procedures. People come to our office from Anchorage, Wasilla, and Eagle River. Call for an appointment today.
Contact Alaska Premier Dental Group:
907-337-0404
