What is Tooth Reabsorption?
Oral health is not just about maintaining a white, cavity-free smile. Behind every smile, there are a series of processes and conditions that can affect the health of our teeth. One of those conditions is tooth resorption. Although it is not as well-known as cavities, it is essential to understand what it is so you can be on the lookout for it in your oral health.
What is tooth resorption?
Tooth resorption is a process in which the hard tissue of the tooth, known as dentin, breaks down and is absorbed by the body. This condition can affect the root or crown of the tooth, leading to tooth loss (or the need for extraction) if not treated properly. Tooth resorption is a natural process in which the gradual loss of tooth tissue occurs, whether from the crown or root of the tooth. This process can be caused by a series of factors, such as dental trauma, orthodontic movement, infections, periodontal diseases, treatment complications, among others. In some cases, resorption may occur asymptomatically, without the patient noticing or feeling any discomfort. There are two main types of tooth reabsorption: internal and external.
Internal Tooth Resorption occurs due to the presence of a chronic inflammatory process, initially which may be asymptomatic, and in many cases caused by extensive cavities, deep restorations, tooth whitening, pulpitis (inflammatory process of the pulp) or by the most common form found, which is dental trauma. And because it does not present immediate symptoms, this problem requires an early diagnosis to interrupt the process before it further compromises the mineralized structures of the tooth, which can lead to color changes, an inflammatory process that can lead to infection, and in more severe cases, tooth loss.
How to identify Internal Tooth Resorption?
Tooth Resorption does not always present a visible set of symptoms. Therefore, in many cases, it may take years for the patient to realize that they have the problem. However, as reabsorption worsens, symptoms tend to develop gradually, helping the patient in the identification process. They are:
- Pain;
- Change in tooth color;
- Swelling and redness of the gums;
- Fragility of the affected structure;
- Tooth fracture.
What is the difference between internal resorption and external resorption?
Resorption can be classified as internal or external, depending on where it starts: on the outside of the tooth or from the pulp cavity inside it. Check out the main characteristics of each type below and understand their differences:
External Tooth Resorption:
It occurs in any external part of the root, and can be caused by more severe dental trauma, such as intrusive luxation (tooth “enters the gum”), extrusive luxation (tooth “comes out of the gum”) and tooth avulsion (tooth is projected out of the alveolus) in addition to very accelerated orthodontic movements.
Internal Tooth Resorption:
It affects the internal part of the root, being more common in patients with a history of milder dental trauma compared to external tooth resorption (strong blows with the brush when brushing, sports trauma, knocking with glasses (when drinking liquids), cavities In the radiographic differential diagnosis between internal and external resorption, it consists of following the line corresponding to the internal wall of the dentin and the contour of the root canal, however, the best way to differentiate both resorptions is through a widely used exam called tomography.