Unbiased oral health information

Glossary

Atrophy

Alternate terms: Atrophic.

Refers to tissue shrinkage, in which the number of cells remains normal, but the size of the cells becomes smaller—generally from lack of use. In the mouth, the term is commonly used to refer to the alveolar (tooth supporting) bone and gum tissues, which shrink when teeth are removed. Technically, this isn't an entirely accurate use of the term because the number of bone cells present does decline when teeth are lost.
Learn more: Diagnoses › Edentulism

Precision attachments are removable overdenture abutments (note atrophic ridge)

The prominence of the gold retainers on the patient's only remaining teeth emphasize how much bony resorption (ridge atrophy) has occurred with the loss of her other teeth.

Panoramic X-ray image of a severely resorbed (atrophic) mandible

This patient has lost all her teeth and subsequently experienced severe "disuse atrophy" (through bone resorption) of the jaw bones. The solid white line (OBL) indicates the approximate position of the patient's original bone level. The dashed line indicates her current bone level.

The four white spheres are radiographic markers where dental implants are being planned. Because of severe bone resorption, the patient's mandible has become delicate and is at risk for fracturing (see arrow).