What else causes bone loss?

Whenever a tooth is lost or extracted, a considerable amount of bone that once surrounded the remaining root portion may be lost. This loss can be particularly rapid during the first months and is technically referred to as ‘bone resorption’. Although the rate and amount of resorption is variable between different individuals, it will always occur to some extent, unless specific care is taken to reduce the effects. Sometimes the most simple way to reduce bone loss after an extraction is to place the implant within the first few weeks, or immediately.

Many patients report that after a period their dentures become progressively looser and do not fit as well as they did. At first, the increased rate of bone loss following the extractions is responsible for the observed deterioration of denture fit. Over the long-term it is the direct effect of chewing that causes the slow resorption of supporting bone. Most people that have had dentures for many years will have needed a reline procedure to compensate for this bone loss. Therefore, the longer dentures are worn, the more the amount of bone for dental implant placement is reduced.