Can dental bone loss be reversed?

There are several ways to slow or reverse dental bone loss. The success of each method largely depends on the individual patient's age, overall health and willingness to make lifestyle changes to promote healthy bone growth.

If bone loss is caught in the early stages, it is sometimes possible to reverse the condition with lifestyle changes alone, including quitting smoking and eating a healthy diet. These changes promote overall good healing, including the regeneration of bone. However, more advanced bone loss may require medical intervention. Healthy bone can be surgically grafted onto the lost bone. The graft eventually fuses to the existing bone and becomes part of it.