Are You At Risk For Bone Recession?

A healthy smile requires decay-free teeth and healthy gums. But how often do we appreciate our jaw bone? Our teeth need a strong firm foundation to remain healthy and beautiful. This post from Thompson and Frey in Owensboro looks at bone recession and dental implants.

Occasionally, a patient experiences bone recession in their jaw that can cause tooth loss and other troubles. But it’s usually the other way around. Bone loss occurs as a result of a lost tooth, because the blood supply and stimulus necessary 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. A dental implant provides stimulation similar to the natural tooth and can prevent bone recession.

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 dangerous infection.

Gum infections can advance undetected, though there are usually warning signs. Swollen, painful gums, loose teeth, and gums that bleed when brushed are symptoms of periodontitis. The infection dissolves bone as the gums pull away from the tooth. Inadequate oral hygiene increases the risk of gum disease but other factors can compromise gum health. These include smoking (no surprise here), hormone levels, diseases that lower immune system effectiveness, medications that cause dry mouth, and genetic predisposition.

Abscessed Tooth
An abscess is a pus-filled 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 required.

If you’re missing one of your teeth, a dental implant may be just what you need. Call us at Thompson and Frey in Owenboro to schedule a consultation. We also provide family dentistry. Make an appointment today.

Contact Thompson & Frey Cosmetic & Family Dentistry:

270-683-0620

Location (Tap to open in Google Maps):

3164 Alvey Park Dr E
Owensboro, Kentucky
42303