Tooth resorption?

[Emilyjade03]

Hi,

second thread of the night!

so I’ve been told the root on one of my teeth is shrinking. Can someone explain please what this means in the long run?

My teeth have always caused me huge anxiety and stress! My teeth have been damaged after braces really struggling to come to terms with the fact I may lose front teeth

 

[Gordon]

The crucial question is "external or internal resorption"? Massively different prospects for treatment depending on which it is.

 

[Emilyjade03]

The crucial question is "external or internal resorption"? Massively different prospects for treatment depending on which it is.

Thank you for getting back to me, really appreciate it! As far as I know it’s external, the dentist thinks braces has caused it! Is this worse than internal? ?

 

[Gordon]

I'm afraid it is, yes, I'm sorry. Basically the cells responsible for bone remodelling attack the root of the tooth. Start putting money away for an implant

Braces have been implicated in it, if the forces to move the teeth were too high. It does happen spontaneously or after trauma too.

 

[Emilyjade03]

I'm afraid it is, yes, I'm sorry. Basically the cells responsible for bone remodelling attack the root of the tooth. Start putting money away for an implant

Braces have been implicated in it, if the forces to move the teeth were too high. It does happen spontaneously or after trauma too.

I was expecting that! can it stop naturally or will it always keep shrinking until it comes loose? I can’t afford an implant as I’m saving for a house

 

[Gordon]

It might stop on its own but generally it doesn't, more bad news, I'm sorry.

 

[Emilyjade03]

It might stop on its own but generally it doesn't, more bad news, I'm sorry.

It’s okay! I’d rather know than have false hope. My orthodontist never informed me that this could happen. As far as I was aware orthodontic treatment was totally risk free. It’s definitely concerning that they can mislead you like that and cause permanent damage and eventually loss of teeth. Thank you for all your messages!

 

[Gordon]

It's one of those perennial dilemmas on how much you need to tell patients. Clinicians have been arguing about this for decades.

It's possible for almost any intervention to go wrong, is it right to go into any conceivable risk or should you only mention the more common things?
Having a case of external resorption is extremely rare due to orthodontic treatment and most of us dentists would agree that it's not worth patients becoming stressed out over it.