My Blog
Posts for tag: root resorption

Baby (primary) teeth look and function much like their permanent counterparts. Besides having a visible crown, they also have roots that maintain contact with the jawbone.
But there are some differences, the biggest one being the normal process whereby primary tooth roots dissolve or, in dental terms, resorb. Root resorption eventually leads to the tooth coming loose to make way for the permanent tooth.
Adult tooth roots can also resorb — but it's decidedly not normal. If adult root resorption isn't promptly treated, it could also lead to tooth loss — but there won't be an incoming tooth to take its place.
Although it can begin inside a tooth, adult root resorption usually begins on the outside. One type, external cervical resorption (ECR), begins around the neck-like area of the tooth not far below the gum line. Its initial signs are small pink spots where the tooth enamel has eroded; those pink cells within the space are doing the damage.
We don't fully understand the mechanism behind ECR, but there are some factors that often contribute. People with periodontal ligament damage or trauma, sometimes due to too much force applied during orthodontic treatment, have a high risk of ECR. Some bleaching techniques for staining inside a tooth may also be a factor.
The key to treating ECR is to detect it as early as possible before it does too much root damage. Regular checkups with x-rays play a pivotal role in early detection. Advanced stages of ECR might require more advanced diagnostics like a cone beam computed tomography (CBCT) scan to fully assess the damage.
If the lesion is small, we can surgically remove the cells causing the damage and fill the site with a tooth-colored filling. If ECR has spread toward the pulp, the tooth's inner nerve center, we may also need to perform a root canal treatment.
Either of these methods intends to save the tooth, but there is a point where the damage is too great and it's best to remove the tooth and replace it with a life-like dental implant or other restoration. That's why it requires vigilance through regular, semi-annual dental visits to detect the early signs of root resorption before it's too late.
If you would like more information on adult tooth root resorption, please contact us or schedule an appointment for a consultation. You can also learn more about this topic by reading the Dear Doctor magazine article “Root Resorption.”

Dentist - Boonville
911 Aigner Dr
Boonville, IN 47601
(812) 897-1410
Archive:
- 2019
- 2018
- June (6)
- Winning the War on Gum Disease Requires Post-Treatment Vigilance
- 3 Types of Tooth Pain and What They Might be Telling You
- Keep on Course during the 3 Phases of a Smile Makeover
- June Is National Safety Month: Be Prepared for Dental Emergencies
- Finding the Right Solution for Your Gummy Smile
- Watch Out for Signs of Gum Recession
- March (5)
- Get an Early Start Treating Root Resorption Before it's Too Late
- A Partial Denture Can Restore a Smile Marred by a Few Missing Teeth
- Consider Saving a Tooth Before you Decide to Replace it
- A Child's Teeth Grinding is Normal - But You Should Still Keep an Eye on it
- A Pediatric Dentist Could be a Great Choice for Your Child's Dental Care
- 2017
- December (5)
- Survey Says: They'd Rather Have a Root Canal
- Have a Loose Tooth? You'll Need This Two-Phase Treatment to Save It
- There's Still Hope for a Re-Infected Tooth After Root Canal Treatment
- Provisional Restorations let you Try out Your New Smile First
- 3 Ways You Can Help Your Child Feel at Home at the Dentist
- June (5)
- Include Limitations on Sugar in Your Tooth Decay Prevention Strategy
- Teeth Grinding in Older Children and Adolescents a Cause for Concern
- No- or Minimal-Prep Veneers Reduce Permanent Alterations to Your Teeth
- See Your new Look Before Dental Work with a 'Trial Smile'
- Overcoming Gum Recession will Restore Dental Health and your Smile
- February (5)
- The Parent-Dentist Partnership: Establishing Better Oral Health for Your Child
- Know the Facts Before Considering Botox for Jaw Joint Pain
- Try Conservative Measures to Treating TMD Before More Aggressive Options
- Avoid Permanent Tooth Alteration with No-Prep Veneers
- Don't Let Your Loose Tooth Become a Lost Tooth
- 2016
- October (5)
- Cleaning Your Oral Appliance Extends its Life and Ensures Good Health
- Stop Annoying Canker Sores with These Effective Treatments
- New Understanding of Bacteria Promises Better Approaches to Oral Care
- Gum Recession Could Shorten the Life of Your Teeth
- Don't let Gum Disease - the 'Other Dental Disease' - Rob you of Your Smile
- August (5)
- A Second Root Canal Treatment May Help Save an Endangered Tooth
- Metal Dental Amalgam: Still a Safe and Effective Tooth Filling
- Keep Your Saliva Flowing - Your Oral Health Depends on it
- You can Still have Implants with Diabetes - if you have it under Control
- People Born with Missing Teeth can Still Gain a Beautiful Smile
- June (5)
- Be Sure Your Child has Access to Dental-Friendly Snacks at School
- Patchy Discolorations on the Tongue Aren't a Cause for Worry
- Take These Measures to Lower Your Child's Tooth Decay Risk
- Home Whitening Kits are Safe and Effective, if Used the Right Way
- 4 Reasons Saving Your Child's Decayed Baby Tooth is a Good Idea
- March (5)
- 5 Ways to Make Your Smile More Confident and Inviting
- Though not Always Seen, it's Still Important to Replace a Missing Back Tooth
- Removable Dentures Remain a Viable Option for People with Total Tooth Loss
- Find out What Kind of Tooth Staining you Have Before Seeking a Solution
- Gaining a New Attractive Smile is More than Achievable
- 2015
- December (5)
- Periodontal Surgery may be Needed to Halt Gum Disease and Encourage Healing
- Customized Temporary Crowns let you 'Rehearse' Your Future Smile
- Paying Attention to Certain Factors Helps Ensure Successful Implant Outcomes
- Treating Dry Mouth is Important for Maintaining Good Oral Health
- Implant-Based Removable Dentures a Good Choice for Patients with Extensive Bone Loss
- 2014
- 2013
- December (5)
- Taking Care of your Teeth During Pregnancy Helps Both you and your Baby
- Dental Amalgam Fillings Remain a Safe and Reliable Tooth Restoration Option
- New Permanent Teeth - Faster Than Ever!
- Quitting the Smoking Habit Could Vastly Improve Your Dental Health
- Loose Dentures Could Lead to Further Bone Loss
- 2012
- 2011
Tags
- sensitive teeth (2)
- oral health (65)
- celebrity smiles (13)
- dental implant (2)
- veneers (8)
- gum disease (23)
- periodontal disease (9)
- heart disease (2)
- oral hygiene (30)
- dental hygiene (4)
- teeth whitening (8)
- dental implants (29)
- dental emergencies (1)
- sports dentistry (1)
- dental injuries (3)
- nutrition (10)
- root canal (8)
- tooth decay (16)
- smile makeover (17)
- cosmetic dentistry (34)
- tooth colored fillings (5)
- fillings (4)
- tooth wear (2)
- grinding (1)
- prepless veneers (2)
- dental injury (9)
- dental emergency (4)
- common symptoms (6)
- snoring and sleep apnea (3)
- oral sedation (2)
- sedation dentistry (4)
- dental anxiety (1)
- fluoride (5)
- oral cancer (9)
- smile (1)
- wedding day smile (1)
- dental fillings (4)
- pediatric dentistry (29)
- thumb sucking (6)
- floss (1)
- crowns (6)
- wisdom teeth (5)
- dental crowns (2)
- braces (3)
- orthodontics (8)
- laser dentistry (3)
- periodontal (gum) disease (3)
- diabetes (3)
- tmd (2)
- tmj (3)
- bridgework (3)
- oral piercings (1)
- tooth decay quiz (1)
- wedding day smiles (1)
- snoring (4)
- sleep apnea (4)
- dentures (7)
- dental hygienist (1)
- clear aligners (2)
- chipped tooth (2)
- bonding (2)
- dry mouth (2)
- bad breath (2)
- mouth rinse (1)
- loose teeth (3)
- cracked tooth syndrome (1)
- porcelain veneers (5)
- tongue piercing (1)
- pregnancy (3)
- periodontal plastic surgery (1)
- whitening (1)
- sealants (2)
- crown (2)
- invisalign (2)
- clear orthodontic aligners (3)
- loose dentures (1)
- smoking (2)
- mouthguards (1)
- saliva (1)
- denture (1)
- teething (3)
- mouthguard (1)
- furcation (1)
- herbal remedy (1)
- dental treatment (2)
- dental care (1)
- dental health (1)
- crown lengthening (3)
- toothache (5)
- baby teeth (2)
- power bleaching (1)
- chipped teeth (1)
- cosmetic gum surgery (1)
- dental exam (2)
- partial denture (4)
- bridge (3)
- missing tooth (2)
- replacing teeth (1)
- orthodontic treatment (5)
- topical fluoride (3)
- sinus surgery (1)
- antibiotics (1)
- tooth pain (3)
- ulcers (1)
- canker sores (2)
- dental specialists (1)
- tooth replacement (2)
- missing teeth (3)
- periodontal surgery (2)
- root canal treatment (5)
- tooth staining (1)
- removable dentures (1)
- smile design (3)
- chewing tobacco (1)
- salvia (1)
- gum recession (4)
- oral appliance (1)
- night guard (1)
- teeth grinding (4)
- toothpaste (2)
- tmj disorders (3)
- bone grafting (2)
- space maintainer (2)
- extractions (1)
- bruxism (2)
- sugar (1)
- x-rays (1)
- flossing (1)
- tooth extraction (1)
- loose tooth (1)
- root resorption (1)
- athletic mouthguards (1)
- periodontist (1)
- gummy smile (1)