Hello Doc,
Well, I'll tell you the quick short version to save time. Two major reasons I can think of for tooth loss include periodontal disease caused by dental plaque and calculus that irritates the gingiva, causes bone reabsorption and destroys the periodontal ligament holding the tooth in place. Another relative idea is the thought of overhanging margins on a crown or filling that can irritate the gingiva and have the same effect as periodontal disease. It seems to be that when the gingiva or gums are irritated it causes premature bone reabsorption on the aveolar bone that is connected to the periodontal ligament. Also improper biting caused by malocculsion can cause improper stress on a tooth and cause it to fracture or have its gingiva surrounding it, irritated, which has the same effect. Hope this helps. Good Luck.
