Does Alveolar Bone Loss Cause Facial Aging?
Alveolar bone loss is the withering of the maxillary (upper jaw) and mandibular (jaw) bones that lie beneath the teeth. Your teeth rely on the strength of the alveolar bone to keep them firmly in place. Periodontitis, a disease that strikes the gum and bone and around the teeth, is the primary cause of alveolar bone loss and tooth loss in people over age 35, according to the American Academy of Periodontology (AAP). Tooth loss and osteoporosis, a disease that makes bones vulnerable to fracture, might also be factors. The AAP says alveolar bone loss is the main cause of tooth loss among postmenopausal women.
