How General Dentistry Can Treat a Loose Tooth

Loose teeth as a child can be exciting, but loose teeth as an adult are often worrisome and frustrating. Fortunately, general dentistry has ways to repair and care for them. If you have a loose permanent tooth, see your dentist right away to determine why it is loose and develop a plan to treat it.

Causes of loose teeth

To properly address loose teeth, dentists first have to figure out why they are loose.

Gum disease

Gum or periodontal disease is one common source of loose teeth. Its early stage, called gingivitis, is usually painless and often overlooked. As the disease advances, it consumes gum tissue and destroys tooth roots and jawbone, often leaving your teeth loose. People with poor oral hygiene and pregnant women are particularly susceptible to this issue.

Trauma

Falls, sports collisions, car accidents, and other physical forces can also knock teeth loose. In these instances time is critical, so keep any knocked-out teeth moist and get to your dentist as soon as possible.

Infection

Tooth decay or other mouth infections cause loose teeth, too. When an infection reaches your tooth roots or jawbone, it damages the foundation that holds your teeth in place, causing them to become loose and fall out.

Age

Young people have loose teeth as a part of the natural tooth-replacement process, whereas the elderly more often experience loose teeth from a lack of adequate dental hygiene over time. Higher occurrences of jawbone osteoporosis, a bone-weakening disease, often lead to loose teeth in older people as well.

General dentistry fixes for loose teeth

Once your dentist knows why a tooth is loose, there are several options for treating it.

Regular cleanings and examinations

One of the most recommended treatments for loose teeth is routine maintenance and prevention. Seeing your dentist for regular checkups can help keep many loose tooth issues from ever happening.

Scaling and root planing

If you do develop gum disease or an infection, a deep cleansing general dentistry technique called scaling and root planing may be the answer. This thorough cleaning can help eradicate the problem and allow your teeth to tighten back up on their own.

Dental splints

Another solution is occlusal splinting or stabilizing them. This involves binding weak teeth together to form one stronger unit, uniting weak teeth with stronger teeth, or using a mouthguard to help hold them in place.

Root canal

Dentists can also help tighten your teeth via a general dentistry procedure known as a root canal. Root canals treat loose teeth by removing infected material and fixing any damage done, which allows your tooth to heal and tighten back up naturally.

Extraction and replacement

There are times when dentists simply cannot save loose teeth. You do not have to live with a gap from missing teeth forever though. If your dentist decides to extract your loose tooth or teeth, ask about replacement options like dental implants, bridges, or dentures.