Surrounding Teeth Can Become Unhealthy from Bone Loss from One Missing Tooth
Posted on 1/25/2021 by Dr. David Wanserski
Missing even one tooth can cause serious problems for your oral health. One of these problems is bone loss. This post will explain why bone loss occurs after losing a tooth, and the ways this is harmful to your remaining teeth and your oral health as a whole.
Why Does Losing a Tooth Result in Bone Loss?
Your jawbone, alveolar bones, and gums all work together to hold your teeth in place. Gum disease and tooth decay affect not only your gums and teeth, but the bones around your teeth as well. Damage to these bones and your gums loosens your teeth, which can eventually cause teeth to fall out. When one of your teeth falls out or needs to be extracted due to gum disease, tooth decay, an injury, or any other reason, the bone that supported this tooth no longer serves any purpose. If you do not have your missing tooth replaced, nothing will stimulate the bone, causing it to wear down and eventually become reabsorbed into your body.
Why is Bone Loss Problematic?
Missing one tooth does not just impact the bone that used to support that tooth. The teeth on either side of the missing tooth can also suffer from bone and gum loss. This means that these teeth can be vulnerable to loosening and falling out over time as well. Missing any teeth makes you more susceptible to tooth decay and gum disease, and the risk increases with each tooth you lose.
Additionally, bone loss from losing a tooth also weakens your jawbone. When you lose one tooth, the rest of your teeth gradually shift position. This causes your jawbone to wear down unevenly and leads to difficulty chewing, TMJ issues, a greater risk of jaw fractures, and a sunken facial appearance. Dental implants replace missing teeth and prevent bone loss and all the related consequences. Contact us to learn more.
Dental Blog | Wausau, WI | Wanserski Dental Center for Complex Dentistry Dr. David Wanserski, DDS, from Wanserski Dental Center for Complex Dentistry, has created this informative blog to help educate the community. Learn more. Wanserski Dental Center for Complex Dentistry, 550 N. 17th Ave. Wausau, WI 54401 ~ (715) 848-2435 ~ wanserskidental.com ~ 12/1/2024 ~ Page Terms:dental implants Wausau WI ~
Missing even one tooth can cause serious problems for your oral health. One of these problems is bone loss. This post will explain why bone loss occurs after losing a tooth, and the ways this is harmful to your remaining teeth and your oral health as a whole.