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What is Tooth Resorption?

Sarah Sullins
Sarah Sullins

Tooth resorption is when the cells in a person’s body destroy his tooth. Cells attack and wear away a person’s tooth from either the inside or the outside of the tooth. These two types of tooth resorption are called internal and external. Resorption can also occur in the root of the tooth. Treatments for each of the two kinds of resorption will differ.

When cells destroy a tooth from the outside or the inside, it is often the result of pressure against the tooth. Sometimes this is caused by other teeth pressing against the tooth or from devices that are created for the mouth, such as braces. Failure to practice good dental hygiene, including brushing and flossing, may result in bacterial infections in the tooth that lead to inflammation and decay. In children, it is natural for external tooth resorption to occur when a new tooth is coming in. The new tooth puts pushes down on the baby tooth, causing it to become loose and fall out.

Tooth resorption can often lead to a dentist performing a root canal.
Tooth resorption can often lead to a dentist performing a root canal.

Internal tooth resorption is when the inside of a tooth is attacked and destroyed. Typically, it starts on the inside of the tooth or the tooth’s root and hollows it out. Many times, this type of resorption is hard for a dentist to treat because the instruments he uses are not made for use inside the roots. Root canal therapy is often called for with this kind of resorption.

A tooth resorption may lead to a tooth extraction.
A tooth resorption may lead to a tooth extraction.

Root canal therapy is done by a dentist. It involves making a small opening in the tooth and using dental instruments to suck out all of the damaged tissue and roots. The attacking cells are also taken out of the tooth. The affected tooth is then capped with a crown or filling. If the root canal is effective, the internal resorption will not reoccur within the tooth; if the dentist is not able to save the tooth with root canal therapy, the tooth will have to be taken out.

Failure to practice good dential hygiene may lead to tooth resorption.
Failure to practice good dential hygiene may lead to tooth resorption.

External tooth resorption is often worse than internal, because the cells eat away at the lining and enamel of the tooth. If the resorption occurs on the root of the tooth, the cells destroy the root externally. Many times, a person first notices that external resorption is occurring when his tooth becomes loose and wobbly. This type of tooth resorption usually results in a total tooth extraction if it is not taken care of immediately.

Discussion Comments

SteamLouis

I volunteer at a vet's office in my free time and I've seen a lot of cats come in with this problem. It's a very common dental issue with cats. The vet told me that they don't know what causes it. There is also no real treatment. He usually suggests dietary change and regular dental cleaning and that's it.

SarahGen

@turquoise-- Tooth resorption is usually the body's attempt to get rid of an infected tooth. I think rarely, it can happen even when an infection is not present.

It's less likely to take place in people who receive enough nutrients as infants and children. Those who did not receive enough calcium and magnesium during these stages are at greater risk of experiencing this problem.

Like the article said though, tooth resorption is not always a bad thing, sometimes, in order to remodel a tooth, the body might engage in internal resorption.

turquoise

Aside from natural resorption of tooth we experience in childhood, why would the body attack its own teeth?

Is teeth grinding a form of resorption?

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    • Tooth resorption can often lead to a dentist performing a root canal.
      By: kocakayaali
      Tooth resorption can often lead to a dentist performing a root canal.
    • A tooth resorption may lead to a tooth extraction.
      By: starush
      A tooth resorption may lead to a tooth extraction.
    • Failure to practice good dential hygiene may lead to tooth resorption.
      By: Sergey Furtaev
      Failure to practice good dential hygiene may lead to tooth resorption.
    • Failure to practice good dental hygiene may result in bacterial infections in the tooth that lead to infection and decay.
      By: Laurentiu Iordache
      Failure to practice good dental hygiene may result in bacterial infections in the tooth that lead to infection and decay.
    • Tooth decay may cause inflammation of a tooth nerve.
      By: ia_64
      Tooth decay may cause inflammation of a tooth nerve.
    • Internal tooth resorption may necessitate a root canal procedure.
      By: Igor Mojzes
      Internal tooth resorption may necessitate a root canal procedure.
    • A lack of good dental hygiene, such as brushing, can lead to tooth resorption.
      By: Kalim
      A lack of good dental hygiene, such as brushing, can lead to tooth resorption.