Loose
teeth are more commonly caused by:
 | Gum disease |
| Following a dental injury |
| After
braces |
[BACK TO
TOP]
Caused
by Gum (Periodontal) Disease:
In
the event you have one or more loose teeth as a result of gum
(periodontal) disease, it is important to have a thorough evaluation
performed by your Dentist.
Treatment:
Many
treatment choices exist
that can save your teeth even after
they have become very loose. Your Dentist will first have
X- rays
taken, and then measure the depth between the tooth and the gums with a
periodontal probe. The probe measures the distance from the top of the
gums to the bottom of the gum pocket next to the tooth. Healthy gum
pockets are two (2) to three (3) millimeters deep. Depths exceeding three
(3) millimeters indicate gingivitis (early gum disease) or periodontitis (more
advanced gum disease accompanied by bone loss).
Treatment options include a combination of:
|
root
planing (removing the tartar and polishing the root surfaces)
|
|
splinting (using materials to secure loose teeth to each other)
|
|
surgery
(pulling the gums back to gain proper access to the root surfaces
|
|
re-sculpting the bone and gums, and placing several stitches to aid
healing) |
Some general dentists perform these treatments in their
offices, while others refer patients to periodontists, who are specialists
that concentrate
on gum-related problems.
[BACK TO
TOP]
Following
a Dental Injury:
An
accident resulting in a blow to a tooth may cause a tooth to
become loose. If it's still properly aligned, it will generally tighten back
up on its own (in days or several weeks). It is important to know that a
tooth may tighten up and appear normal only to later die because the nerve
and blood supply are severed. If this occurs, you may
experience:
| a gum boil (a
tooth abscess that has worked its way to the surface) |
| a toothache,
darkening of the tooth |
| no symptoms at
all |
Treatment:
Get to the Dentist immediately in the event you have an injury-related
loose tooth. The tooth will need to be re-examined periodically by
your Dentist for a year or more to assure that it is still healthy and has an intact nerve and blood
supply.
[BACK TO
TOP]
After
Braces (Orthodontics):
It is
quite common for some teeth to be
slightly loose during and after the wearing of braces. This is
caused by the process of pressure on the teeth by the braces and their response to the pressure
exerted by the brackets and wires on your teeth. Special cells remove bone
on one side of each tooth and build bone on the opposite side. This
process allows teeth to move through bone. Until all the bone has filled
back in, teeth may be noticeably loose.
Treatment:
Contact your orthodontist.
[BACK TO TOP]
|
2001 -2008 All Rights Reserved
