Learn about the different ways your jawbone can deteriorate and negatively impact your oral health. Luckily, Dr. Ali Alijanian has a variety of treatments to combat this in order to help you achieve your optimal dental health. Call 925-934-7888 to schedule a consultation with our oral surgeon in Walnut Creek, California, to discuss your options for treatment.
Tooth Extractions
If you have had a tooth extracted surgically but have not yet had a replacement, it could cause jaw deterioration. Things like chewing and biting stimulate the nerves in the alveolar bone, which is the bone that anchors the teeth. Without that stimulation, the jawbone deteriorates, or resorbs, from lack of use. The rate at which the bone tissue deteriorates varies in every person, though the majority of loss usually happens within the first 18 months then gradually from then on.
Periodontal Disease
Periodontal disease is very detrimental to your health. It happens when bacteria from leftover food debris infects the gums, leaving them inflamed and swollen. Extensive gum disease leads to gum recession and eventually tooth loss. Once the tooth falls out, your jawbone no longer has stimulation to keep from deteriorating.
Dentures
Unanchored dentures do not provide direct simulation to the jawbone, which leads to deterioration over time. Because of this, dentures may become loose, causing problems with basic oral functions like chewing and speaking. Deterioration may become so extensive that your dentures need to be replaced. Luckily, some dentures are implant supported, which Dr. Alijanian can incorporate to help restore your oral health.
Trauma
If you have experienced extensive dental trauma resulting in a lost tooth, whether from an injury or jaw fracture, we can help stimulate tissue regrowth with a bone graft.
Misalignment
In extensive cases of teeth misalignment, some teeth end up with no opposing structure from the opposite jawline. The unopposed tooth can over-erupt, which can cause deterioration to the underlying jawbone. Lack of oral hygiene, TMD and normal tooth wear over time can also cause stimulant problems.
Osteomyelitis
Osteomyelitis is a bacterial infection that occurs in the bone and marrow of the jaw. It leads to inflammation, which in turn causes reduced blood supply. The treatment for this infection usually requires the infected bone tissue to be removed as well as antibiotics. A bone graft can also help retore tissue to the affected area after the infected bone has been removed.
Tumors
Malignant facial tumors nearly always spread through the jawbone, while benign tumors may grow potentially large. Both cases usually require a part of the jaw to be removed. We can treat the removal of bone tissue with a bone graft.
Developmental Deformities
There are certain conditions and syndromes that result in missing teeth and facial bones or a malformed skull or jaw. Dr. Alijanian can perform a bone graft to replace any absent bone tissue.
Sinus Deficiencies
When back molars are extracted or removed, the air pressure in the maxillary sinus can cause resorption of the bone tissue that helped keep the teeth in place. This results in hyper-pneumatized sinus, a condition where the sinuses become enlarged. This condition develops over several years and can also be caused by insufficient bone from dental implants. Dr. Alijanian can perform a sinus lift to treat this.