Have you ever heard someone complain that they lost parts of their tooth? This can definitely sound scary, but it’s a fact that some injuries to the mouth can damage parts of your teeth. This process is known as tooth resorption. This condition can deteriorate the pulp, dentin, enamel, root and, cementum. For some patients, resorption occurs on the outer layer of a tooth and slowly moves inward.
Every child experiences tooth resorption when they are about to have adult teeth. Resorption occurs in the roots of baby teeth so they can go away, and permanent teeth can come in. Dental resorption occurs naturally in primary teeth but can result in lasting deterioration to the adult teeth.
Types of Dental Resorption
Resorption can be divided into two categories, internal and external, that can damage the permanent teeth.
Internal resorption
Internal resorption damages the inner parts of the tooth. It isn’t easy to detect internal resorption because it shows no symptoms and is only diagnosed when your dentist sees dark spots on your X-ray. Anyone can be a victim of internal resorption, but it mostly affects men and those undergone extensive dental surgery.
External resorption
External tooth resorption happens more often than the internal one and damages the outer layers of teeth. It is easy to identify and can be determined by spots or chips on the tooth’s surface. A dental X-ray of someone diagnosed with external resorption will show shrinkage and flattening of the tooth roots.
Symptoms of Tooth Resorption
Dental resorption doesn’t always show symptoms, but when it gets worse, you may witness:
- holes in a tooth that look like a cavity
- abnormal spacing between teeth
- gum inflammation
- tooth discoloration
- pain pulses coming from the crown or inside of the tooth
Should you get treatment?
If you leave dental absorption as it is, your condition can worsen and give you additional problems, such as:
- chipped teeth
- tooth discoloration
- receded gums
- crooked teeth
Apart from this, resorption can also result in weakened teeth, pain, and oral infection.
The good news is that it’s possible to treat tooth resorption simply by fixing the damage and taking measures to avoid further spread.
The first step of treatment for dental resorption is removing the damage triggered by resorption. Next, the remaining tooth is saved by a dental restoration such as veneers, root canal, or dental implant (depends on the amount of tooth removal.) Some patients need more dental procedures like a tooth removal or gum surgery.
What to do after the treatment?
After the treatment is over, you’ll need to carry out regular dental exams and professional cleanings to minimize the chances of the redevelopment of resorption.
Many patients aren’t happy with how their teeth look after the damage from dental resorption. If you’re one of those, you can schedule an appointment with a cosmetic dentist to make your smile appear more attractive. Call Cypress Dental Clinic at (832)-427-6620.