Why Does Your Jaw Reabsorb After a Tooth Extraction?
Posted on 10/19/2020 by Dr McMurray
The human body really is a remarkable machine. The human mouth is no different. When a tooth is extracted and not replaced, an empty socket is left. The surrounding teeth can shift and move out of alignment if the tooth is not replaced. The normal stimulation a tooth receives with the motion of the jaw and the teeth gnashing together in the normal biting motion no longer occurs. When this happens, the stimulation given to the jawbone to maintain its strength and growth stops happening and the bone tissue can actually resorb (also know as reabsorbs) and the bone tissue begins to break down because the body no longer thinks the bone is necessary.
The loss of bone varies between patients. While most bone loss happens within the first twelve to eighteen months, which can be up to 25% of the total bone material, following a tooth extraction. This occurrence will continue for the rest of the patient's life, though the bone deterioration will be at a much slower rate.
How to Address Jaw Bone Deterioration
It is one reason why dental implants for a false tooth is recommended following a tooth extraction to maintain the stimulation for the bone. Couple with dental implants, two or more false teeth can provide the same pressure and therefore stimulation that normal teeth can. With this stimulation the bone will not resorb.
If the bone tissue has already started to degenerate, it is possible the patient might require a dental procedure to replace the missing bone material. This is typically done with a dental procedure called a bone graft where bone from another part of the body is placed in the mouth at the site of bone loss. You can always give us a call if you have questions about bone loss or tooth extraction complications.
South Valley Oral and Facial Surgery, 5595 Winfield Blvd, Suite 202, San Jose, CA 95123-1220 ^ 408-479-9449 ^ svofs.com ^ 9/3/2024 ^ Related Phrases: dental implants San Jose CA ^
The human body really is a remarkable machine. The human mouth is no different. When a tooth is extracted and not replaced, an empty socket is left. The surrounding teeth can shift and move out of alignment if the tooth is not replaced. The normal stimulation a tooth receives with the motion of the jaw and the teeth gnashing together in the normal biting motion no longer occurs. When this happens, the stimulation given to the jawbone to maintain its strength and growth stops happening and the bone tissue can actually resorb (also know as reabsorbs) and the bone tissue begins to break down because the body no longer thinks the bone is necessary.