Bone Loss When Losing A Tooth

Losing a tooth is never fun, no matter if it’s through a dental extraction or a complete accident. However, it’s important to see a dentist in Vero Beach as soon as you can to prevent bone loss. Quick action can help you avoid losing any bone structure, which could make a future implant much more difficult.

There are Many Ways of Losing Adult Teeth

Although we strive for a world where no adult suffers from tooth loss, it is an unfortunate circumstance that we see frequently. The vast majority of dental professionals will want you to keep your natural teeth. They will do as much as they possibly can to help you save them.

In many cases, the tooth loss is the result of an accident, usually from playing sports or being involved in a vehicle collision. Sometimes, a tooth has become rotten or decayed and is no longer viable. This is often the case for those with periodontitis. If the tooth can’t be saved, your dentist will likely recommend having it removed and replaced with a dental implant.

Periodontitis: What is it and What are the Risk Factors?

Too often, improper dental hygiene has led to periodontitis and tooth decay. When someone skips brushing, flossing, and regular dental visits, bad bacteria can build up. These bacteria lead to red, swollen gums that may also bleed easily when brushing and cause pain. As you can imagine, this leads to less brushing, which only makes the problem worse. Eventually, you may develop periodontitis. If this happens, you are at a greater risk for tooth loss, stroke, heart disease, diabetes, and other health concerns.

There are two stages of periodontitis: gingivitis, which is much easier to remedy in your dentist’s office, and periodontitis, which is the more severe case and requires a professional periodontist in Vero Beach, FL. With the second state of periodontitis, there are six additional categories, with four of them being the most common cases.

Aggressive periodontitis is often found in those patients who are otherwise considered healthy.

Chronic periodontitis occurs most frequently. In these cases, the injured gum tissue will recede. This creates pockets between the gum and tooth, which opens up the risk for infection and disease. If not treated, the patient may experience inflamed tissue, deepening pockets, or bone loss.

Periodontitis as the result of systemic diseases has been extensively studied and confirmed. Those who suffer from heart disease, respiratory disease, and diabetes, may also develop periodontitis more easily than those without those conditions.

Necrotizing periodontal disease means the gums have become so infected that most or all of the cells in the gum tissue have died. This category is more commonly found with those who have an HIV infection, malnutrition, or immunosuppression.

What Happens if You Lose Bone Mass?

If you’ve been struggling with periodontitis for a long time, your dentist may recommend an extraction of the decayed tooth. If the extraction is quickly followed by a dental implant, then you shouldn’t be at risk for losing too much of your bone structure. However, if you’ve lost a tooth a while ago and haven’t had it replaced, you may run into other issues.

Without a tooth in place, the jaw bone starts to deteriorate because it is no longer needed. However, without any jaw bone to help stabilize it, a dental implant will not be successful.

If you’ve lost too much bone mass, you may need a guided bone regeneration procedure before getting dental implants in Vero Beach. This procedure involves placing a bone graft over the affected area, then covering it with a barrier membrane that is 2-3 mm larger. Once healed, you’re ready for the implant.

Your Best Prevention is Vero Beach Dental

The best way to avoid periodontitis, teeth extractions, bone loss, and dental implants is to practice proper oral hygiene at home. Additionally, it’s important to visit your dentist in Vero Beach, FL on a regular basis. If you suspect your oral health is in need of more extensive treatment, VIP Vero Implants & Periodontics has excellent periodontists that can help you get your health, smile, and life back. Please call us today or contact us online with any questions.