TVOFS - Boise Office
| Jawbone Loss and Deterioration Boise & Meridian The bone in your jaw may undergo necrosis due to a variety of reasons, resulting in a low density jawbone. Preventing jawbone loss and deterioration is essential for maintaining your oral health and the structure of your face, and ensuring that you can eat and speak in a normal way. At Treasure Valley Oral & Facial Surgery, we can help you maintain optimal jaw health by regular dental checkups and innovative treatment options. Jawbone Loss and DeteriorationThe following are the most common causes of jawbone loss and deterioration: Tooth ExtractionWhen you lose an adult tooth, the socket on which that tooth was located will start to deteriorate. Teeth help stimulate the jawbone by their biting and chewing mechanism and when that stimulation is lost, that portion of the jawbone is lost. In the first year after tooth extraction, at least 25% of the bone is lost. Periodontal DiseasePeriodontal or gum disease is the inflammation of the gums caused by infection-causing bacteria. Periodontal disease can be easily managed in its early stages but if it is allowed to progress, it can progress into a more aggressive form of disease, which is known as periodontitis. Periodontitis is characterized by the destruction of gums, periodontal ligaments, the supporting bones of the teeth, and the alveolar ridge. The loss of the alveolar bone can lead to loss of teeth. Dentures/BridgeworkDentures are placed on top of the gumline and do not provide the necessary stimulation to the alveolar bone. Dental bridges, on the other hand, are supported by dental implants or crowns; however, the part where the bridge spans the gap left by missing teeth is not anchored to the jawbone. Hence, these devices cannot prevent the resorption of the bone if your teeth have been lost. Facial TraumaIf you suffer a blow to your mouth which knocked out or broke the tooth so much that it has no biting surface left, the jawbone cannot be stimulated and will break down. People who have suffered jaw fractures or have teeth which have a history of trauma may suffer from bone loss years after the actual trauma. MisalignmentPeople who have misaligned teeth may also suffer from jawbone loss. Because of misalignment, some teeth may not have an opposing tooth structure. As a result, these teeth can push out of the bone more than other teeth in the jaw. This can cause deterioration of the bone on which they are supported. OsteomyelitisThis is a type of infection of the jawbone or the bone marrow of the jaw. This can lead to inflammation and reduced supply of the blood to the jaw, which can result in bone loss. TumorsBoth benign and malignant mouth tumors can expand and require removal of certain parts of the jawbone. Sinus DeficienciesWhen the back teeth are extracted from the upper jaw, air pressure from the sinus cavity can cause the resorption of the jawbone. This can also result in the sinuses become enlarged. If you are considering dental implants in your upper jaw, Dr. Cole Anderson and can perform a sinus lift in your jaw. Developmental DeficienciesCertain birth defects may result in a reduced or absent portion of teeth, jaw, and facial skulls. Bone graft surgery can help repair these deficiencies. Effects of Jawbone LossBone loss in the jaw can result in a lot of physical and functional changes for you. These include:
How We Can Treat Jawbone Loss and DeteriorationConservative treatments are not enough to stop jawbone deterioration. However, there are several minimally-invasive surgical options with which we can prevent and treat your jawbone loss. These include: Dental ImplantsDental implants consist of screw-shaped titanium rods that are placed surgically in the jawbone. These implants are capped with an artificial crown, which provide a biting surface and hence keep the alveolar bone stimulated. This prevents the loss of jawbone. Bone GraftIf you have already suffered from bone loss, we can use bone grafts to replace and augment the lost or reduced bone matter. At Treasure Valley Oral & Facial Surgery, we offer a variety of bone grafting material to treat low jawbone density in people. Sinus Lift ProcedureOur upper jawbone has lower bone density than our lower jaw because of their nearness to the sinuses. At Treasure Valley Oral & Facial Surgery, we can lift the sinus membrane and fill the space with a bone grafting material to enhance your jawbone with minimal side effects. If you have lost your teeth, it is important to prevent the deterioration of your jawbone. Getting a dental implant in place of the missing tooth is a great way to keep your jaw strong and healthy. Depending on the health of your jaw, we can offer you different treatment options. Call us today at (208) 343-0909 to schedule an appointment with us. |
