Hi vichen,

Thank you for posting the xray. The bony area of the extracted tooth on the left of the xray shows two things. One is the outline of the root of the tooth that was removed and secondly the dark black area indicates very shallow bone formation. After 5 months of healing, this radiographic finding usually indicates that the periodontal ligament was not removed and perhaps the site was not debrided thoroughly after the extraction of that tooth. This could be a contributing factor as to why the bone has not filled in more densely. Depending on the health of that bone, the bone may or may not continue to become more dense over time.

The bony area of the extracted tooth on the right of the xray shows a denser growth of bone with some bony spicules which are basically some irregularities in the new bone. This could be due to some tissue that was left behind when the tooth was removed and/or it just may need more time to fill in.

There is always some degree, about 50%, of permanent bone loss when a tooth is extracted. This could result in a thinning, narrowing, and reduced height of the final bone growth. If a successful bone graft was placed in healthy bone, then the overall bone loss is usually quite less.

In healthy people, the jaw bone of the extraction site takes a full year before the bone becomes solidified. It is a long process of healing that takes place. The outward appearance of the gum tissue heals much sooner than the actual jaw bone.

May I ask, were these teeth previously root canaled? If so, were they retreated prior to being extracted? Had you developed a fistula above either or both of these teeth prior to the extractions?

Are you contemplating dental implants in these two areas?

The fact that you are breastfeeding does play a role in the way your body will heal from oral surgery. It would have been ideal to eat a diet rich in bone building minerals and also supplement with the same. Were you advised to do that?

Bryanna