Find Us
Call Today (216) 381-3009
14100 Cedar Road, Suite 210
University Heights, OH 44121
My Blog
Archive:
- 2022
- 2021
- 2020
- 2019
- 2018
- 2017
- 2016
- 2015
Tags
- celebrity smiles (68)
- cosmetic dentistry (12)
- tooth pain (4)
- chipped teeth (1)
- sedation dentistry (3)
- oral hygiene (25)
- dentures (5)
- dental anxiety (2)
- dental implants (12)
- wisdom teeth (2)
- partial dentures (1)
- gum disease (14)
- tmd (1)
- tmj disorders (6)
- tmj (1)
- pediatric care (1)
- fillings (1)
- orthodontics (2)
- braces (6)
- sinus surgery (1)
- dental emergency (1)
- dental injury (7)
- composite resins (1)
- porcelain veneers (4)
- crowns (3)
- medication (1)
- antibiotics (1)
- tooth grinding (1)
- sleep apnea (3)
- snoring (3)
- bad breath (2)
- sensitive teeth (2)
- orthodontic treatment (8)
- retainers (1)
- oral health (28)
- veneers (3)
- teeth grinding (2)
- oral cancer (9)
- partial denture (2)
- apioectomy (1)
- mouthguard (1)
- tooth decay (6)
- periodontal disease (3)
- bonding (1)
- root canal treatment (3)
- chipped tooth (3)
- nutrition (9)
- teeth wear (1)
- lump (1)
- athletic mouthguards (1)
- teeth whitening (4)
- mouthguards (4)
- smoking (2)
- air abrasion (1)
- oral surgery (3)
- bruxism (1)
- night guard (1)
- gum recession (5)
- bone grafting (1)
- root resorption (2)
- pediatric dentistry (5)
- thumb sucking (1)
- pregnancy (1)
- cleft lip (1)
- cleft palate (1)
- GERD (1)
- x-ray (1)
- toothache (2)
- baby teeth (1)
- bridgework (1)
- crown lengthening (1)
- loose tooth (2)
- retainer (1)
- tooth replacement (1)
- jaw pain (1)
- abscessed tooth (1)
- crown (2)
- facial pain (2)
- trigeminal neuralgia (1)
- TADs (1)
- vaping (1)
- dental implant (2)
- extraction (2)
- clear aligners (1)
- dental cleaning (1)
- mouth sore (1)
- dental care (2)
- dental injuries (1)
- root canal (1)
- aging (1)
Categories:
A loose adult tooth isn't normal. It could be loose because it's been subjected to high biting forces like those that occur with a tooth grinding habit. Or, it could be the result of periodontal (gum) disease or some other infection that has weakened some of the tooth's supporting gums and bone. Whatever the underlying cause, we'll need to act quickly to save your tooth.
Our first step is to find out this exact cause—that will determine what treatment course we need to follow. For a tooth grinding habit, for example, you might need to wear an occlusal guard or have your bite (teeth) adjusted. With gum disease, we'll focus on removing dental plaque, the thin film of bacteria and tartar (calculus) fueling the infection. This stops the infection and minimizes any further damage.
While we're treating the cause, we may also need to secure the loose tooth with splinting. This is a group of techniques used to join loose teeth to more stable neighboring teeth, similar to connecting pickets in a fence. Splinting can be either temporary or permanent.
Temporary splinting usually involves composite materials with or without strips of metal to bond the loose tooth to its neighbors as the periodontal structures heal. Once the tooth's natural attachments return to health, we may then remove the splint.
There are a couple of basic techniques we can use for temporary splinting. One way is to bond the splint material to the enamel across the loose tooth and the teeth chosen to support it (extra-coronal splinting). We can also cut a small channel across all the affected teeth and then insert metal ligatures and bond the splint material within the channel (intra-coronal).
If we're not confident the loose tooth will regain its natural gum attachment, we would then consider a permanent splint. The most prominent method involves crowning the loose tooth and supporting teeth with porcelain crowns. We then fuse the crowns together to create the needed stability for the loose teeth.
Whatever splinting method we use, it's important to always address the root cause for a tooth's looseness. That's why splinting usually accompanies other treatments. Splinting loose teeth will help ensure your overall treatment is successful.
If you would like more information on treating loose teeth, please contact us or schedule an appointment for a consultation. You can also learn more about this topic by reading the Dear Doctor magazine article “Treatment for Loose Teeth.”
Lynda V. Butler, DDS