What Are the Treatments for Teeth With Significant Bone Loss?

Periodontal diseases, left untreated, can lead to significant alveolar bone loss around your teeth. While there are some treatments to stop the bone loss, be sure discuss any action you plan to take with a dental professional.

Root Planing And Scaling

• Cleaning the spaces around your teeth down to the roots and removing the plaque and tartar is called root planing and scaling. Your dental professional performs this procedure to try to stop further bone loss and improve the health of your teeth.

Pop A Pill

• Periostat (doxycycline 20mg) is a pill created by Alliance Pharmaceuticals that can be taken to help reattach gums and reduce spaces between teeth and gums. This pill is taken in conjunction with scaling and root planing and must be prescribed by your doctor.

Holistic Wellness

• According to Dr. Paul Gilbert, treatment for bone loss begins by seeking the care of a biological dentist who will improve your mouth hygiene. You also need to begin taking food supplements like Acidophilus and Vitamin D to improve your immune system.

Dental Implants

• If extraction is necessary, following the removal of your teeth, new teeth can be implanted. According to Dr. Timothy Moore of Grand Rapids Dental Implants, implants preserve the alveolar bone and will feel more like a natural tooth.

Future Treatments

• A 2008 University of Michigan study found placing a human growth gene called platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF) directly into gum tissue in rats resulted in bone growth. If the study findings can be proven effective for humans, this could provide another tool for dental professionals to use to help regenerate alveolar bone and teeth roots.