Your dental arches need proper stimulation, through chewing or biting, to stay healthy. Tooth loss or the development of dental disease can cause the jawbone to recede or be reabsorbed by the body. This risks the health of remaining teeth, can distort a patient’s appearance, cause pain, difficultly speaking or chewing and interfere with restoration treatment. Loss of tissue can result from a variety of causes, including:

  • Tooth Loss or Removal
    When a tooth is removed or lost to illness or injury, normal pressure on the alveolar (teeth-anchoring) bone is also lost. Without this pressure, the bone can recede and threaten the strength of existing tissue.
  • Restorative Appliances
    Dentures not anchored to the jawbone do not provide adequate stimulation to the jawbone and can result in deterioration. Bridges that span gaps in the dental arch also do not provide the necessary pressure to prevent bone loss.
  • Dental Trauma
    Severe dental trauma, such as jaw fractures or knocked out teeth, often result in bone deterioration. Whether the injury directly affects the jawbone or simply results in the loss of a tooth, lack of stimulation can cause the tissue to recede.
  • Periodontal Disease
    Periodontal disease can spread from initial plaque buildup, to infection of the gum tissue, to affecting osseous, or bone, structure. It is important to seek early treatment for of gum disease to prevent this loss of tissue.
  • Osteomyelitis
    When bone or marrow within the jaw is affected by osteomyelitis, it may require removal of infected tissue, along with antibiotic and bone graft treatments by our dentists.
  • Facial Tumors
    Benign or malignant tumor growth may require bone grafting to replace significant loss of the jawbone.
  • Developmental Deformities
    When conditions halt the development of dental and maxillofacial tissue, this often includes osseous portions of the jaw. Dr. Jiries Mogannam or Dr. Vicente Chavez may use bone grafting to restore tissue.
  • Hyperneumatized Sinus
    If the upper molars are lost or removed, bone reabsorption can occur, enlarging the sinuses and causing them to become “hyperneumatized”.
  • Misaligned Teeth
    Lack of bone stimulation can often result in deteriorated bone tissue. Misaligned teeth, TMJ disorders and everyday abrasion/friction can result in an uneven bite and focus or isolate forces across the mouth.

For more information on our jawbone loss treatments in Petaluma, California, call Petaluma Oral Surgery & Dental Implant Center at 707-769-1414.

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