Factors Affecting Dental Bone Healing

Your dental bones are classified under one of the few tissues that heal without leaving behind a fibrous scar. Dental bone loss usually occurs due to gum problems, which can be solved with periodontal disease treatment. Before diving into the causes that slow down bone healing, let’s look at the types of healing processes.

Direct Bone Healing: Also known as “intramembranous” or “primary” healing, direct bone healing occurs when your fractured bone ends come in contact with each other despite no movement. This happens due to rigid internal fixation by screws and plates that helps stabilize bone fragments. One of the most common signs of successful direct bone healing is the absence of calluses.

Indirect Bone Healing: Also known as “endochondral” or “secondary” healing, indirect bone healing involves a callus formation at the fracture site that undergoes multiple transformations, restoring the bone’s structural integrity.

• Now that you know the basics of bone healing, let’s take a look at the factors affecting it:
• Smoking constricts blood vessels, which leads to severe bleeding, exposing your gum to infection
• Diabetes exacerbates periodontal disease (disease of the gums), which delays the healing process
• Insufficient intake of nutrients, such as calcium and Vitamins A and D, affects bone health. Vitamin A ensures your dental implants are supplied with sufficient blood, and Vitamin D controls the levels of calcium, which are essential for new bone growth.
• The Parathyroid hormone (PTH) also controls the calcium level in your blood. Maintaining this hormone’s level is essential for bone regeneration.
• As you age, your dental bones become more susceptible to chronic inflammation. Moreover, the quantity of muscle stem cells decreases, which negatively impacts the healing process.
• Infections significantly impair bone healing. Proper preoperative and postoperative care, including taking antibiotics, is crucial in preventing infections.
• In many cases, bone graft dental is used to promote bone regeneration. The choice of graft material can impact the healing process.

Addressing these factors is essential for timely healing. This is why maintaining oral hygiene and regular visits to the dentist to spot bone loss before it escalates.

At Coastal Periodontics, we have the expertise and experience to improve your smile. Your search for an oral surgeon near me in Portsmouth ends at us. For more information, call 603-427-8383.