You suddenly notice something doesn’t feel right in your mouth. A quick check in the mirror and a poke of your finger reveal an adult tooth is loose. You quickly think back to childhood, knowing a loose baby tooth is sure to fall out. That’s not necessarily the case with an adult tooth. There are many things that can be done to secure the tooth and allow it to heal.
Many adults will experience loose teeth at some point in their lives. It can happen at any age. An injury to the mouth, tooth grinding, or gum disease can affect the stability of the tooth and its socket. If you’ve been hit in the jaw and the injury doesn’t seem that severe, you could wait a few days to see if the tooth tightens up. This often happens as the swelling subsides and stretched periodontal ligaments heal.
How Dentists Treat Loose Adult Teeth
A dentist’s first reaction is not going to pull out the loose tooth, because most of the time it can be treated. They’ll diagnose the problem through a physical exam and x-rays. Once the see what is wrong and what’s causing the tooth to be loose, they can choose a treatment that will help you.
One of the most common loose tooth treatments is tooth splinting. A splint is bonded to the loose tooth and other ones that are stable, which keeps it in place until the healing process is complete. That can take a few days to a couple of weeks.
Teeth grinding is another reason adult teeth become loose. The high forces and constant strain while you are sleeping can injure your teeth enough for them to loosen, but a mouth guard can be worn to prevent loose teeth or stabilize those that become loose. Dentists will also look for gum disease, which will require a deep cleaning to get all the bacteria out of the gums and remove plaque build-up from between the teeth. Once the gums are clean, they can become healthier and your loose teeth will tighten up.
Changing the Biting Forces
Excess force is a common cause for loose teeth. If grinding isn’t the cause for the problem, the dentist can reshape the affected tooth and the one that is contacting it. Modifying the forces on the teeth facilitates healing. A loose adult tooth may not be as perilous as you think; your dentist may have simple treatments that will allow it to heal.
