Loose Adult Tooth
When you have a loose tooth in your mouth, you must see your dentist promptly. When your dentist identifies the cause of this condition, your treatment will begin at once.
Possible Causes of Loose Teeth
If the cause of a loose tooth or teeth is gum disease, you may need to undergo scaling and root planing. It is a special type of deep cleaning involving scaling/removal of built-up plaque and tartar from under the gums of the affected loose tooth or teeth, and planing or smoothing of the root surfaces. Antibiotics may be prescribed to eradicate any infection.
If gum disease is extensive, any of the following surgical procedures may be employed. Flap surgery is one. Gum incisions are made to pull away the gums so that scaling and root planing can be done. Then gum tissue is reattached to hug the tooth snugly and prevent looseness and tooth loss.
Another surgical procedure, bone grafting, may be used if there is already bone deterioration. Fragments from your own bone (such as the back of your jaw bone) or a bone grafting material is used to repair the deteriorated bone. This helps to regenerate healthy bone to support the loose tooth. And there’s splinting. To save a tooth, your dentist uses a piece of metal to act as a bond between two adjacent teeth, to keep the loose tooth in place and prevent drifting.
Teeth Grinding
If a loose tooth is caused by teeth grinding, your dentist may do a bite adjustment. This involves reshaping the bite surface of the loose tooth by scraping off small amounts of its enamel. It removes pressure on the tooth, enabling it to heal. A mouth guard is another option for teeth grinding. The wearer uses it while sleeping; to act as a protective barrier and may allow the loose tooth to heal.
What is the prognosis for a loose tooth in adults?
Treatment can improve the health of the affected teeth and gums and bone as well. Proper oral hygiene or use of a mouthguard can save the teeth. But if gum disease or teeth grinding is extensive, the affected teeth will have to be extracted and replaced by implants or a bridge.
SourceOptions for Loose Teeth in Issaquah
If you are experiencing loose teeth, see your Issaquah dentist right away. We have the available options and one of them may just be right for you.
