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Can bone loss around teeth be reversed? Question

Some bone lost to periodontitis can be rebuilt. Narrow, deep defects next to a root (vertical defects) respond best to regenerative surgery with bone grafts, membranes or growth factors, and to the LANAP laser protocol, which the FDA cleared in 2016 for regeneration. Bone lost evenly across many teeth (horizontal loss) regrows less predictably.

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How is lost bone rebuilt?

  • Regenerative flap surgery with bone graft and a barrier membrane.
  • Enamel matrix proteins applied to the cleaned root.
  • LANAP, with FDA clearance for new cementum, ligament and bone.
  • Ridge grafting where a tooth is lost, to support an implant.

What helps regeneration work?

Not smoking, controlled blood sugar, daily cleaning and maintenance visits. Smoking reduces healing after every periodontal procedure.

Questions

Does bone loss in teeth hurt?

Usually not. Bone loss is often found on X-rays or by pocket measurements before any pain.

Sources

  1. FDA 510(k) K151763, PerioLase Nd:YAG laser, 2016
  2. Tonetti MS et al. Staging and grading of periodontitis. J Periodontol 2018
  3. American Academy of Periodontology, patient resources

Reviewed by , Director of IT and Medical Compliance: 25 years in dentistry, medicine and HIPAA compliance. Updated . Checked against the sources listed. General information, not medical advice.

Gum disease and symptoms Read next

Why do my gums hurt?Gums hurt most often because they are inflamed by plaque (gingivitis), infected in a deep pocket (a periodontal abscess), irritated by trapped food, or worn by hard brushing.Can gum disease be reversed?Gingivitis, the early stage, reverses completely: gums return to health within days to weeks of removing plaque.Is gum disease genetic?Genes influence how strongly a person's immune system reacts to gum bacteria, so periodontitis runs in families and some people progress fast even with good care.Does smoking cause gum disease?Smoking is the strongest single risk factor for periodontitis: the CDC puts smokers at twice the risk, and in NHANES III current smokers had about four times the odds.What do gum pocket numbers mean?The numbers called out during a gum exam are pocket depths: how far, in millimeters, a probe slides between the gum and the tooth.Can gum disease cause tooth loss?Yes. Periodontitis destroys the ligament and bone that hold teeth, and the CDC lists it as a leading cause of tooth loss.