The importance of your jawbone health can seem trivial when maintaining the apparent health, appearance, and function of your teeth and gums. Without proper dental techniques and procedures, however, your jawbone can begin to deteriorate, which could lead to you needing a bone graft. While it is possible for the jawbone to deteriorate from poor oral hygiene or missing teeth, it is important to note that the rate at which a person loses bone density varies greatly.
Deterioration of the jawbone can be caused by a number of reasons, some of which include:
- Tooth Extractions: If a tooth has been removed and is not replaced, bone loss occurs mostly within the first eighteen months of the extraction.
- Periodontal Disease: Untreated periodontal infection of your gum can spread to the supporting structures of your teeth, including the alveolar bone, periodontal ligament, cementum, or gingiva.
- Dentures/Bridges: Jawbone is maintained throughout your mouth is areas where it is needed, and with a missing tooth or arch of teeth, it begins to degrade.
Other situations that can affect the health of your jawbone and cause deterioration include trauma, misalignment, osteomyelitis, facial tumors, developmental deformities, and sinus deficiencies. We encourage you to schedule a consultation with our oral surgeon in Eagle, Idaho, by calling (208) 995-2865 if you are concerned about losing density in your jawbone, and to learn more about your jawbone health. We look forward to improving your oral health at Eagle Oral Surgery and Implant Center.