Teeth are responsible for your smile, but oral diseases can affect this smile. Maintaining proper oral hygiene is important for protecting your teeth from silent conditions that can damage your teeth. These oral diseases can cause tooth loss, and external resorption is one of them. You should be aware of external resorption, as it can cause tooth loss silently. You will learn in this blog about this disease, how it develops, types of this disease, common signs, and why it leads to tooth loss.
External Resorption Causes Silent Tooth Loss
This is a very different disease from cavity and decay, as it causes tooth damage without bacterial attack. The root structure of the tooth gradually breaks down into pieces without the feeling of pain. That is why external resorption is the silent cause of tooth loss. Teeth damage begins from the nail, and it ends with the pulp of your teeth. This disease damages the foundation and structure of your teeth.
How External Resorption Develops
External resorption develops due to an injury that breaks the cementum of your tooth. Cementum is the protective layer of your tooth that can be damaged by injury, bracing pressure, and infection. Your body attacks the tooth and causes damage to the root of your tooth. This attack occurs mistakenly as the body detects damaged tissue and starts to break down.
Types of External Resorption
Some types of external resorption can develop quickly, while others are slower. There are different types of external resorption, and each type is caused due to various reasons.
External Inflammatory Resorption
This external resorption develops after dental infection. Dental infection causes inflammation around the tooth. The body breaks down the root of the tooth as a response to this inflammation. This type damages the teeth rapidly due to untreated inflammation of the tooth.
External Cervical Resorption
The infection develops near the gumline and spreads towards the root of the tooth. This infection causes pink spots near the neck of your tooth. External cervical resorption does not cause pain and it develops slowly. This is why external cervical resorption causes tooth loss silently.
External Replacement Resorption
This is a type of external resorption in which the body replaces the damaged root of a tooth with bone. Bone takes the place of a damaged root, and the tooth fixes with the bone. This tooth does not move normally, which weakens the tooth and results in tooth loss.
Common Causes of External Resorption
Trauma from accidents and sports is also a common cause of this dental problem. Dental injuries are the most common causes of external resorption. Dental treatments may damage the tooth, which can result in external resorption. Poor dental health and dental nutrition contribute to tooth damage.
Moreover, some orthodontic treatments such as braces can put excessive pressure on the tooth for a long time. This pressure can damage the protective layer of the tooth, which leads to external resorption. Chronic dental infection is also a common reason, as it causes severe inflammation. You may know that chemical irritation near tooth structure can cause this oral disease.
Signs and Symptoms You Should Not Ignore
You should know that external resorption is a silent disease, as it cannot cause pain in the early stages. There are almost no signs of this disease, but it can cause pink spots near the root of teeth. Regular dental checkups, especially in pediatric dentistry can diagnose early dental problems with the help of advanced dental machines.
Why External Resorption Leads to Tooth Loss
External resorption destroys the root structure of the tooth. This root structure is responsible for fixing the tooth in its place. Tooth weeks and loss of stability that results in permanent tooth loss. Early diagnosis plays an important role in preventing tooth loss and other complications. Regular dental checkup ensures good dental health.
How Dentists Diagnose External Resorption
External root resorption can be diagnosed with dental imaging techniques. Dental X-rays help the dentist see the shape and density of the root. As we know, external resorption of teeth destroys the structure of the root. Dentists diagnose external resorption by examination of the root structure. Early diagnosis plays an important role in preventing permanent tooth loss.
Conclusion
External resorption of the tooth causes silent tooth loss as it damages the base of the tooth. You can visit Dental Advice Today for more valuable information. External root resorption is caused by an injury or trauma that damages the protective layer of a tooth.
The body attacks the damaged tooth and gradually breaks it down into pieces. Sometimes, pink spots appear on the tooth, but it is rare. It causes tooth loss without the feeling of pain. Regular dental checkup helps to prevent this problem. Dental X-rays are used to diagnose external resorption. Dentists examine the root structure as this dental problem affects the roots of teeth.
FAQs
What is External Resorption in Dentistry, and How Does it Affect the Tooth Structure?
External resorption is a dental problem in which the body breaks down the root structure of the teeth. This process does not cause pain, and it develops slowly due to an injury to the tooth.
How does External Resorption Usually Develop Without Showing Early Warning Signs?
External resorption can develop without early warning signs as it develops under the gums at the root of teeth. Our body breaks down the root of teeth, and nerves do not react to this process.
How Can External Tooth Resorption Cause Permanent Tooth Loss if it is Not Treated?
This dental problem affects the root and weakens the structure of teeth, resulting in permanent tooth loss. This is a silent process as it can not cause pain and gradually damage the root of the tooth.
When Should a Patient Seek Dental Care if External tooth Resorption is Suspected?
You should consult a dentist after dental trauma or injury, even if you do not have a feeling of pain. A dental checkup helps to prevent external tooth resorption.
Who is More Likely to Develop External Tooth Resorption Compared to the General Population?
There are more chances of external tooth resorption for people who have chronic infection, dental injury, a history of orthodontic care, and trauma. These people can prevent this problem by regular dental checkups.
Can External Tooth Resorption be Stopped With Early Diagnosis and Proper Dental Treatment?
Early diagnosis helps to prevent tooth loss and further complications as the dentist can remove the damaged tissues and other causes or external tooth resorption.
