How quickly do bone loss occur?

[Aspen]

I do my cleanings every 4 months and the dental check up twice a year. My dentist never said anything about posible bone loss that I need to watch out for. Then out of nowhere in my last check up upon complaining of tenderness, he referred me to a periodontist who said I need a bone graft and extraction due to severe bone loss. How can this happen so quickly? Should my dentist or hygieniest have known this prior to my last check up?

 

[Dr M]

Did he take regular x-rays when you go for your check-ups? This seems like something that should have been picked up earlier. Periodontal disease with bone loss, does not happen overnight.

 

[Aspen]

Thank you for the reply. My last xray was a year ago, my check up was 8 months ago and my cleaning 4 months ago. Is it possible to only see this through xray and for my pocket to go from 3 to 10 in a year?

 

[Dr M]

Seems highly unlikely. Most likely there was already some bone loss present 1 year ago.