About

The process of the elimination of hard tissues and bones from the body is known as resorption. The tooth’s root resorption occurs when hard tissues eat away the space of a tooth root. This natural process is a part of the baby's teeth falling out. This process, however, can be problematic when it involves permanent teeth.

Normal tooth resorption

The process of resorption involves the passage of messages between bone and teeth. It signals tooth and bone structures to rebuild or break down. The Dental Aegis suggests that physiological resorption involves the body signaling bones between the new tooth and old baby tooth to break down. It results in the baby tooth falling out, giving way to a permanent tooth to start erupting.

Complications

According to the European Journal of Dentistry, orthodontic treatment can sometimes result in mild root resorption in the permanent teeth. Braces use force to guide teeth towards the desired alignment. It initiates the process of remodeling of jawbone to accommodate the new position of the tooth. A too-quick shift in the position can result in the tooth root dissolving.

The Dentistry IQ suggests that excessive dissolving of a permanent tooth can result in it becoming mobile or falling out.

Causes of root resorption

Several theories are there to explain the process. Nonetheless, oral health sciences are yet to provide a clear answer in this regard. The European Journal of Dentistry suggests that this process may be due to factors related to oral diseases or orthodontic handlings. People suffering from allergies, asthma, and chronic alcoholism are more likely to have this problem. Other factors to consider are age, genetics, and gender. Orthodontic-related factors include the duration of the treatment, and amount of force coming from the braces, and the direction of the tooth.

Treatment for resorption

Because there is no known reason for resorption yet, it is best to prevent this phenomenon from occurring. The Dentistry IQ recommends orthodontists to take imaging tests of the patient mouth regularly to make sure that no resorption is taking place. If the tooth root begins to look small during these tests, it may be an indication of the need to stop this treatment and look for other alternatives. The chances of extreme resorption are rare, but you should consult with your dentist to catch these problems during an early stage.

The best way to avoid resorption, as well as any other oral health condition, is to stay on top of an oral hygiene routine. Brushing twice a day and flossing are the bare minimum. Make sure to examine your teeth thoroughly every day to make sure that no complication has surfaced. Use antiseptic mouthwash to keep your mouth free of harmful bacteria, but make sure that the product you use doesn’t have any alcohol content in it.

Make sure to visit your dentist every six months to get your oral cavity check for any complications or problems. This dental visit will allow your dentist to catch and treat any problem before it becomes worse.