Dental bone loss occurs when the bone supporting the dentition shrinks and the teeth loosen in the cavities. If the problem is not treated, you will lose all your teeth because there is not enough bone to support them. Bone loss is most frequently associated with the following conditions: severe gum problems (periodontal disease), osteoporosis and type II diabetes mellitus. While surgery is often required to reverse significant bone loss, it can actually be prevented by maintaining good dental care and identifying the signs and symptoms of this problem early.
Steps
Part 1 of 3: Reverse Bone Loss with Medical Assistance
Step 1. Get a bone graft
It is very difficult to re-grow the dental bone that has already been lost. To date, the only way to completely reverse dental bone loss is to undergo a graft. This treatment involves complete wound healing within 2 weeks.
- The dentist will tell you that you will have to wait 3-6 months before seeing the results of this surgery.
- Bone grafting can be divided into three main types of procedures, analyzed below.
Step 2. The bone graft that reacts in the manner of osteogenesis promotes bone regrowth
In this procedure, bone is taken from a source (an area of the jaw, mandible, etc.) and transferred to the area where the loss of dental bone tissue occurs. The bone cells that have been transferred will begin to multiply and create new tissue to replace the lost one.
- This bone transfer technique is the "queen procedure" of grafts.
- It allows the body to easily accept new bone cells because it recognizes them as its own.
- The bone marrow is often used in osteogenesis.
Step 3. The bone graft for osteoconduction provides support for bone growth
In this process, a graft is implanted at the site where there is bone loss. This implant serves as a scaffold on which bone cells (osteoblasts) can grow and multiply.
- A typical material used is bioactive glass.
- The bioactive glass is transplanted into the area where there is bone loss, to regenerate it again.
- This material acts as a scaffold on which the grafts can grow and fix the bone. It also releases growth factors that make bone-forming cells more effective.
Step 4. Osteoinduction promotes the growth of stem cells
In this technique, bone grafts are transplanted, such as demineralized bone matrix (DBM), taken from cadavers and bone banks, in the area where there is the loss of dental bone. DBM grafts can induce stem cells to grow where bone is missing and turn into osteoblasts (bone cells). These osteoblasts can heal the bone defect and make up new tissue.
- The use of DBM cadaver grafts is legal and safe. Before carrying out the transplant, all grafts are carefully sterilized.
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Once it is verified that it is safe for the transplant, the bone graft is tested to see if it fits the recipient's body.
This is an important phase, to be sure that the graft is not rejected by the body
Step 5. Undergo a deep scaling, or scaling, to get rid of an infection that causes bone loss
Deep scaling or non-surgical root planing are deep cleansing techniques often needed if you are diabetic. During this procedure, the root area of the teeth is thoroughly cleaned to remove those parts infected with the bacterium causing bone loss. Usually, after these treatments, gum disease remains under control and no further dental bone loss should occur.
- If you have diabetes, healing may not be complete and additional dental care precautions such as antibiotics and antibacterial mouth rinses may be required.
- Your doctor may prescribe doxycycline to be taken in doses of 100 mg / day for 14 days. This compensates for the compromised immune system.
- He may also point you to chlorhexidine rinses to kill the bacteria responsible for severe gum disease. You should do rinses with 10ml of Chlorhexidine 0.2% (Orahex®) for 30 seconds for 14 days.
Step 6. Get estrogen replacement therapy to prevent osteoporosis
Estrogen can help prevent osteoporosis and preserve the mineral content of bones, slowing down their weakening. HRT can also reduce the risk of heart disease and bone fractures. There are several ways to get estrogen replacement therapy, the main ones being:
- Estrace: 1-2 mg per day for 3 weeks.
- Premarin: 0.3 mg per day for 25 days.
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The following are estrogen to be applied as patches to the skin which are also used in estrogen replacement therapy. These patches are applied to the stomach, below the waist:
- Alora.
- Climara.
- Estraderm.
- Vivelle-Dot.
Part 2 of 3: Preventing Bone Loss
Reverse Dental Bone Loss Step 7 Step 1. Prevent dental bone loss by maintaining excellent oral hygiene
If you don't want to go through expensive bone grafting procedures, you need to prevent dental bone loss from occurring. It is quite easy to prevent this problem, as long as you take the necessary measures. All you need to do to maintain good oral hygiene is to follow a few simple steps:
- Brush your teeth thoroughly every after meal. Washing them at least twice a day can prevent gum disease. The use of a toothbrush removes the plaque that is responsible for gum disease and the loss of dental bone tissue.
- Floss after brushing your teeth. This will free the plaque that was not removed with the toothbrush. It is imperative to use it after brushing, as there may be some food residue between the teeth that have not been reached by the bristles of the toothbrush.
Reverse Dental Bone Loss Step 8 Step 2. Have a regular visit to the dentist for a thorough cleaning of your teeth
Caries is one of the main causes of dental bone loss, it can be avoided with regular visits to the dentist to receive a thorough cleaning and complete dental care.
- To preserve dental bone, you must also keep all teeth healthy.
- Visit your dentist every six months for routine cleaning, which is essential for maintaining good oral hygiene.
- This way your doctor keeps track of your oral health and prevents any gum problems that might arise.
- Sometimes an x-ray of the dental arches may be needed to clearly detect areas of dental bone loss.
- If you don't stick to a routine of dental checkups, bone loss could reach an irreversible stage.
Reverse Dental Bone Loss Step 9 Step 3. Use fluoride toothpaste when brushing your teeth
It protects the teeth and gums from possible bone loss by providing the minerals needed for bone and tooth enamel.
- Excessive use of fluoride, other than that contained in toothpaste, is not recommended, as it can lead to other health problems.
- Fluoride toothpaste should be used once a day to brush your teeth, otherwise use regular toothpaste.
- Do not give fluoride toothpastes to children under the age of 10.
Reverse Dental Bone Loss Step 10 Step 4. Increase your calcium intake to support bone health
Calcium is an essential nutrient for the health of all bones, including teeth. Foods rich in calcium and supplements ensure adequate amounts of this mineral necessary to build and strengthen bones and teeth, increasing their density and reducing the risk of dental bone loss and fractures.
- Foods like low-fat milk, yogurt, cheese, spinach, and soy milk are high in calcium and are important for ensuring strong teeth and bones.
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You can also find calcium supplements in tablets.
Take 1 tablet (e.g. Caltrate 600+) after breakfast and 1 tablet after dinner. If you forget to take a supplement, take it as soon as you remember
Reverse Dental Bone Loss Step 11 Step 5. Make sure you are getting enough vitamin D to absorb calcium properly
Take a vitamin D supplement or stay in the sun to get enough. Vitamin D helps increase bone density, facilitating the absorption of calcium and retaining it in the body.
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To determine if you have vitamin D insufficiency, you need to see your doctor who can recommend a blood test.
- A result below 40 ng / mL indicates a deficiency of vitamin D in the blood.
- The normal level is 50 ng / mL.
- Take a 5,000 IU vitamin D supplement every day.
Part 3 of 3: Knowing the Risk Factors and Identifying Symptoms Early
Reverse Dental Bone Loss Step 12 Step 1. Recognize the signs and symptoms of dental bone loss to address the problem effectively
It is difficult to detect it in its early stages just by looking at the teeth. Dentists usually do an X-ray or computed tomography to see if your bone is shrinking. If you have not had a dental visit in a long time, you will probably only notice dental bone loss in its most advanced stages.
- If you suffer from this problem, you can observe some changes that occur because the bone shrinks and supports the teeth less effectively. Keep in mind that the following changes only develop over time:
- The teeth move apart;
- Space is formed between the teeth;
- The teeth swing and move from side to side;
- The inclination of the teeth changes;
- You feel a swing in your teeth;
- You experience a different sensation while chewing food.
Reverse Dental Bone Loss Step 13 Step 2. Know that severe gum disease is a major cause of dental bone loss
Periodontitis or severe gum disease caused by the presence of bacteria results in loss of dental bone. Plaque-forming bacteria settle in the gums and secrete toxins that cause bone reduction.
Additionally, the immune system can also contribute to bone loss as it has to work to kill bacteria. This is because immune cells secrete substances (e.g. matrix metalloproteinase, IL-1 beta, prostaglandin E2, TNF-alpha) that can also facilitate bone loss
Reverse Dental Bone Loss Step 14 Step 3. Keep in mind that diabetes increases the risk of bone loss
This disease is caused by the impairment of insulin production (type I) and insulin resistance (type 2). Both types of diabetes have effects on oral health. People with this condition often have severe gum problems that can lead to dental bone loss.
- People with diabetes are hyperglycemic or have high blood sugar levels which increases the growth of the bacteria responsible for bone loss.
- Diabetic people have compromised immune defenses because white blood cells are weaker, so they are more prone to infections.
Reverse Dental Bone Loss Step 15 Step 4. Be aware that osteoporosis contributes to general bone weakness and bone loss
It is a disease that often affects women over the age of 60, where bone density decreases. This reduction is due to a calcium-phosphate imbalance, which helps maintain the mineral content of the bones, as well as a lowering of estrogen levels.
A reduction in overall bone density also affects the dental bone
Reverse Dental Bone Loss Step 16 Step 5. Remember that tooth extraction can cause bone loss
Dental bone often shrinks when a tooth is removed. In fact, a blood clot forms and white blood cells massively travel to the extraction site to rid the area of bacteria and restore damaged tissues. After a few weeks, new cells form in the area continuing this clearing process. These cells (osteons) can promote bone formation.
