A loose tooth is a serious dental condition that needs the immediate attention of a dentist. This condition is often suitably treated once the underlying causes and extent of the problem have been determined. Loose tooth most often is a result of untreated gum infections. Habitual clenching/ grinding of teeth or an uneven bite also can cause teeth to wobble, unless of course one receives a blow strong enough to prise the tooth from the jaw!
This dental problem, however, cannot be cured by home remedies alone, as gum diseases or bacterial infections when not treated on time, tend to weaken the tissue surrounding the teeth and ligaments that bind them to the underlying jaw bone. With support structures worn out, teeth no longer snugly fit in place. The problem is bound to worsen when additional pressure is applied on affected teeth when chewing food. If you have a loose tooth visit www.birchgrovedental.co.uk to book an appointment.
Treatment to Save Loose Teeth
Basic periodontal treatment involves strengthening the support tissue and ligaments that hold the teeth in place without surgical procedures. This is usually achieved by:
- Treating the infected gums and ensuring good health of the biological support structure
- Using minimally invasive techniques to distribute the force being applied on the teeth in a balanced manner to relieve excess pressure on the supporting ligaments
It is important to note that teeth share the bone and gum structure, and loose tooth usually indicates that the integrity or health of the structure has been compromised to a great extent and infection well past the initial stages.
Dentists rely on deep cleaning treatments that include root planning and scaling, to remove plaque build-up, and clean up bacteria housed along the gum line. They treat severe infections by applying local antibiotics, and in extreme cases, opt for grafting of bone, gum tissue to rebuild and strengthen support structure to hold teeth in place.
Depending on how mobile or loose teeth actually are, dentists may employ one of following mechanical techniques to stabilise them in place and balance forces acting on the teeth.
Bite Adjustment
It is a known fact that most of us don't have a perfect bite, in the sense the upper and lower set of teeth do not perfectly align with each other when the jaw is locked in a bite. As a result the surfaces of teeth that come in contact with each other do not experience uniform pressure. Dentists specialising in dental occlusion usually shape the bite surfaces of teeth, to reduce the force of the bite on the affected teeth and minimise the scope for movement.
Splinting
Dentists use the splinting technique to steady loose teeth by simply binding them with each other. This way, the brunt of the bite is now borne by a set of splinted teeth rather than a few loose ones.
Splints can be temporary or permanent, depending on the severity of the problem. There are two types of temporary splinting treatment - Intra and Extra Coronal Splints.
- Intra-coronal splint is used to stabilise molars and premolars that bear the brunt of chewing. A metal splint is firmly fixed over a set of affected teeth, which have small placeholders cut on their surfaces.
- Extra-coronal splints are used to bind front teeth by cementing the splint to the enamel.
In case of permanent splints, affected teeth are crowned and crowns fused together.
Removing loose teeth and replacing them with dental implants is often the last resort, but an expensive one as well!
