During eating, the bone tissue of the tooth experiences a certain load. If the teeth fell out, then the load decreases, and the bone decreases in size. With the loss of one tooth, others have to work to a greater extent. This can lead to their rapid destruction.
Tooth bone structure
The structure of bone tissue is different from the structure of other human cells. Osteoblasts and osteoclasts are special cells contained in hard tissues. Osteoblasts produce collagen, which allows bones to continue to grow, and osteoclasts cause atrophy of bone tissue. Some cells continue to grow, others reduce the hard part. Collaboration provokes a constant renewal of the bone tissue of the tooth.
Bone tissue consists of two parts:
- cortical contains a large percentage of minerals;
- spongy is more like bone marrow and consists of soft parts.
The lower and upper jaws differ in structure. The lower one consists of a cortical layer that surrounds a small spongy layer. Such a structure is required in order for the lower jaw to withstand the load that falls on it. The upper jaw for the most part consists of a spongy layer and a small amount of hard tooth tissue.
Cause of atrophy
A decrease in bone tissue occurs after tooth extraction. The more gaps in the dentition, the stronger the symptoms of atrophy are manifested:
- the size of the gums is reduced in volume and height;
- wrinkles may occur around the mouth;
- drooping cheeks and lips;
- omission of the corners of the mouth;
- asymmetry of the face;
- the appearance of gaps between the remaining teeth.
Atrophy occurs due to several reasons:
- tooth loss, one or more;
- damage to hard tissues of teeth;
- changes with age;
- jaw injuries;
- endocrine disorders in the body;
- defective dentures or made in violation of the rules;
- pathologies that are most often congenital.
The most common cause of bone reduction is tooth extraction. The patient himself does not immediately understand that changes occur with the jaw. 3 months after tooth loss, part of the gum begins to fail, and after a year it is no longer possible to insert an implant in the gap without additional measures to restore the bone tissue of the tooth.
What bone destruction leads to
Atrophy is not only an aesthetic problem, with this pathology, changes occur in the body and difficulties arise in other organs. Restoring the dentition becomes a difficult task and requires building bone tissue during dental implants.
In the absence of teeth, food is crushed poorly, which over time leads to a malfunction of the gastrointestinal tract.
Loss of a large number of teeth leads to impaired diction and causes the appearance of deep wrinkles on the cheeks.
Non-carious lesion of tooth tissue
One of the reasons for the appearance of bone atrophy is damage for various reasons. This disease takes the second place according to the dentist after caries. It can affect one or several teeth and manifest various symptoms.
Non-carious lesions of tooth tissue can be congenital or acquired. One of the effects of damage can be erosion. The enamel is damaged, which leads to darkening, increased sensitivity and an aesthetic problem. The disease can last a long time and lead to tooth loss. Sometimes the cause of the development of pathology is nutrition with a high content of acids and salts. Marinades and orange juice provoke the development of the disease. At the initial stage, the disease is not diagnosed, because the loss of enamel gloss is not very noticeable. But over time, the patient complains of pain. Prevention of erosion is an important component to prevent the development of damage to hard tissues of teeth and atrophy.
Another common cause of damage to the dentition is increased tooth sensitivity. Under the influence of temperature, severe pain occurs, which quickly subsides. The disease may bother one tooth or affect several. If left untreated, there is a risk of surgery or removal. To replenish the missing minerals in the tooth tissues, vitamin-mineral complexes are taken.
Bone repair
Bone tissue repair has become possible thanks to the development of medicine. The doctor determines whether restoration is required before implanting a tooth. As a rule, this is necessary. Building the bone tissue of the tooth takes from 6 to 8 months.
Bone tissue repair is necessary in the following cases:
- lack of tooth;
- periodontal disease;
- removal of the old implant;
- jaw injury;
- removal of a cyst in the cavity.
When a tooth is removed, especially with a complex procedure, inflammation can develop, which leads to early erosion of bone tissue. The longer the tooth is not replaced, the more atrophy will manifest itself and the more difficult it is to put in a new implant.
With periodontal disease, bone tissue is destroyed at the base of the tooth. If the disease is not stopped in time, this leads to prolapse of the molar, and for the restoration will require the extension of the jaw bone.
Removal of an artificial tooth is possible when using low-quality material or low-quality work. In such cases, the implant may break and damage the jaw. Therefore, restoration of soft and hard tissues will be required.
If a cyst or tumor was removed, then bone tissue could be affected. Then surgery will be needed to repair the hard parts.
In case of a jaw injury, in particular during a fracture, restoration of some parts is required for further prosthetics.
Recovery Methods
To build the bone part of the tooth, several methods are used, the application of which depends on the degree of atrophy.
Medication is used in the initial stage of atrophy to slow down the process.
The most common method is operational. Recovery occurs in full with minimal risk of side effects. How to cope with atrophy, the decision is made by the doctor, but the method will differ depending on which jaw the operation is on.
Recovery work is under local anesthesia. Ultrasound is used to minimize damage and reduce recovery time. A drug that stimulates cells to regenerate is injected into the bone, and bone tissue is completely restored within 8 months.
Sinus recovery
The sinus lift procedure is designed to increase bone tissue by lifting the maxillary sinuses. It is used provided the patient has no pathologies and allergic reactions.
If the patient has a history of chronic runny nose, sinusitis or multiple septa, then the operation will not be performed.
The procedure allows you to increase the missing volume of bone tissue, but there remains a risk of a chronic runny nose or inflammatory process in the future.
Jaw protection against atrophy
Atrophy of the bone tissue of the tooth is treated surgically, but this can be avoided if the destruction of hard tissue is not allowed.
To do this, it is necessary to restore lost teeth in time and to prevent the loss of existing ones. Implants are much better than other methods, because they have a root and create a load on hard tissues. Removable dentures do not give a full load on the lower jaw, and over time there will be atrophy of the hard tissues of the teeth. Treatment occurs similarly with significant loss of the bony part of the jaw. If hard tissues sag gradually, then prosthesis correction will be required without treatment of atrophy.
In the treatment of atrophy, the choice of treatment method depends on the patient's desire. What does he want to achieve? Complete restoration of bone tissue and its function or create external beauty?
To prevent atrophy and other diseases of the oral cavity, you must visit the dentist twice a year.