Important Signs Of Root Resorption

There can be instances where your tooth looks healthy on the outside, even though it is damaged on the inside. This damage to the roots can eventually lead to tooth loss. In terms of oral health, this serious condition is known as root resorption. This is caused due to injuries in the mouth and teeth, causing inflammation and loss of tissue and bone around the teeth.

What Is Root Resorption?

This is a condition where your tooth’s actual root structure begins to deteriorate or dissolve away. As a result of this, the root of your teeth becomes weaker, less sturdy, shorter, and thinner, eventually leading to tooth loss.

Root resorption can be of two types: internal and external. In case the root resorption is internal, the tooth erodes from inside to outside. Whereas in external root resorption, the progression of tooth erosion happens from outside to inside.

What Causes Root Resorption?

A tooth’s resorption process may start for a variety of reasons. You can suffer from external tooth resorption due to a dental injury, leading to swelling and loss of tissue and bone around a tooth. These injuries can happen due to teeth grinding or teeth bleaching. Additionally, the prolonged use of dental devices like braces contributes significantly to this type of resorption.

Also read: Daily Habits That Can Wreck Your Teeth

In cases of internal resorption, the major part is played by physical injury and cavity. When the teeth cavities are left untreated, they result in swelling on the inside of the teeth, involving bone and causing decay. Root resorption can also occur when gum diseases become severe.

Signs Of Root Resorption

You can watch out for the following signs of root resorption:

Inflammation In Gums

One of the signs that your teeth are not good from the inside is when your gums become inflamed. However, gum inflammation is not an absolute sign of root resorption and can be due to other oral health problems as well, such as gingivitis and periodontitis.

loose teeth

Tooth resorption leads to the loosening of teeth. This happens due to the loosening of the supporting tissues of teeth, producing a weaker foundation. Because there are not enough roots to keep the tooth firm in the jaw, it may eventually fall out of its place.

tooth pain

Since root resorption involves your nerves, it can lead to pain that can be excruciating. However, not all toothaches mean resorption. Teeth pain can also occur in case of gum disease and cavities.

Also read: How To Clean Your Teeth, Doctor Explains

Tooth Chips & Fractures

Resorption makes your teeth weak and vulnerable to chips and decay. Due to the decrease in the density deep inside the tooth, these teeth become more prone to chipping and fracture.

Loss Of Teeth

In cases when the tooth resorption is severe, the more vulnerable tooth weakens further as you keep biting or chewing on those teeth. The tissues that provide support to them become too stressed to handle the forces that occur with biting on those teeth. Consequently, this will lead to the fall of the affected teeth.

Conclusion

Root resorption is a condition that needs proper intervention from your dentist. So, in case you are experiencing unexplained pain in your teeth, it is time to visit your dentist for a diagnosis and check if you are suffering from resorption or other oral health condition.

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