Preventive Dental Care: Jaw Health

While often overlooked, the jaw is a critical part of the smile. From supporting the teeth to facilitating all oral function, the upper and lower jaw play an important role in maintaining a smile’s health and function. If compromised, patients can quickly find their standard of life diminished and may require extensive treatments in order to restore health and strength to the bone. With this in mind, being aware of the conditions that can compromise the health of your jaw and knowing how to protect bone health from the future bone issues can ensure uninterrupted oral function.

Common Dental-Related Causes of Jaw Bone Deterioration:

Periodontal Disease: If left untreated, the bacteria that cause gum disease are able to travel below the gum line and begin attacking the underlying jaw bone structure. As bone strength weakens, the stability of the dentition also becomes diminished, leading to potential tooth loss.

To reinforce the strength of the bone, patients may require bone grafting. During this oral surgery procedure, donor bone tissue is added to the weakened area. Over the course of recovery, this donor tissue begins to integrate with the natural bone, resulting in strengthened bone and improved dental stability.

Non-Implant Restorations: Similar to how bone loss can cause tooth loss, tooth loss can trigger bone deterioration. Teeth roots act like anchors for the bone, providing growth stimulation for the bone. Once a tooth is loss, the bone surrounding the lost tooth begins to deteriorate as a result of the loss of stimulation. This process of resorption is particularly common for patients with tradition, non-implant restorations such as bridges, partials, and full dentures.

To help prevent these issues from compromising jaw health and strength, consider opting for permanent dental implants or implant-supported restorations. In Lorton and Springfield, Dr. Snehal Patel and his team offer comprehensive implant options and work closely with patients to develop the right implant solution for their smile.

Misalignment: In addition to impacting the ability to bite properly, tooth misalignment can have a domino-like impact on the jaw, leading to bruxism and accelerated teeth damage. In cases of severe malocclusion, misalignment can trigger problems for the temporomandibular joint, or TMJ. If left unaddressed, patients can find themselves suffering from serious difficulties in performing basic oral functions, such as chewing, swallowing, and breathing.

Treating misalignment is a multi-faceted process that can include orthodontics, retainers, and surgical processes in order to correct the position of teeth and jaw. At Lorton-Springfield Dental Implants & OralSurgery, our team works closely with local dental specialists to develop a comprehensive treatment solution for patients suffering from malocclusion.

Teeth Abscesses: Abscesses are the consequence of untreated tooth infections. Caused when bacteria enter the inner pulp chamber, failure to treat this condition provide bacteria with the opportunity to travel to the base of the root and begin creating a cyst in the jaw bone. As the abscess grows, the bone is further damaged. Treatment for this condition requires that the cyst be removed and the bone be sterilized, with any infected tissue removed. To reinforce the bone following treatment, available treatments include bone grafting and ridge modification or augmentation.

Protect Your Jaw Health Today

A healthy jaw bone is the foundation of a healthy smile. At our Lorton and Springfield specialty oral surgery practices, Dr. Patel can help you maintain a healthy smile through specialized bone treatments. Contact our team today.