Jawbone deterioration may be caused by several factors, each of which will lead to the eventual loss of your ability to chew and speak normally. When you visit Eastern Shore Oral, Facial and Implant Surgery Center, Dr. Richard Cordero will examine your jaw and mouth to determine the cause of your jawbone deterioration and recommend a bone grafting treatment or other procedures to meet your needs. Call 251-577-8302 today to schedule a consultation with our dentist and learn more about jawbone loss and deterioration in Fairhope, Alabama.
When a tooth is extracted or lost and is not replaced, it eventually leads to a loss of supporting jawbone due to the fact that your teeth stimulate your supporting bone through actions such as chewing and biting.
Also known as gum disease, this condition is an infection of the gum tissues. If untreated, it will eventually progress to destroy your supporting bone and soft oral tissues. Your general dentist should check for signs of gum disease during your regular exams, and if you are diagnosed, you should receive treatment immediately to halt the progression of the disease.
Dentures and bridges are placed atop the gums but are not anchored to your jawbone, meaning that they do not provide any stimulation to your supporting bone. Over time, this will cause your jawbone to deteriorate. However, bridges and dentures can be anchored to dental implants for greater stability, and implants perform the same functions as your natural teeth to stimulate your supporting bone and keep it healthy.
Facial trauma sometimes involves a partially or fully knocked-out tooth. As with regular tooth loss, the missing tooth or teeth lead to a lack of stimulation and the eventual deterioration of the supporting bone.
Tooth misalignment can create situations where teeth are no longer functioning optimally, which leads to a loss of jawbone health.
Osteomyelitis is a bacterial infection in the bone and bone marrow of the jaw that may lead to a reduction of blood supply to the bone and the eventual loss of bone health. Treatment for this condition involves the removal of the infected bone as well as a bone grafting procedure and prescribed antibiotics.
Facial tumors may grow large and require that part of the jaw be removed. Reconstructive bone grafting is usually needed to restore normal jaw function.
Some developmental conditions are characterized by missing portions of the teeth, facial bones, jaw or skull. Our dentist may recommend a bone graft or another procedure to treat these deformities.
If molars are removed from the upper jaw, the sinuses may become enlarged. This condition can be corrected with a bone grafting procedure known as a sinus lift.
If you have any questions about jawbone loss and deterioration or the treatments our dentist may recommend, please contact our team at 251-577-8302 and schedule an appointment.
251-577-8302