When you are younger, a loose baby tooth is often a time of excitement. However, if you have a permanent tooth, it can be very scary to notice that the tooth is wiggling around in your mouth. A loose adult tooth is serious, but it does not necessarily mean you will lose your tooth. There are several things dentists can do to help you preserve your smile if you have a loose tooth.
Reasons You Might Have a Loose Adult Tooth
The very first thing to do when you have a loose tooth is to discover the cause. Being able to identify the reason behind the loose tooth can help your dentist at Lovett Dental Meyerland Plaza treat the problem. It also lets you take steps to keep any other teeth from getting loose, too. One of the most common causes of loose teeth is gum disease. Also called periodontitis, this is a preventable disease where your gums get infected and inflamed due to poor dental hygiene. Your gums gradually recede, so your teeth are not held in your mouth as securely.
Another common cause of loose teeth is an injury. If you get a blow to the face or if you regularly clench and grind on your teeth, a tooth can face so much damage that it becomes loose. There are also a variety of hormonal and nutritional imbalances that can cause loose teeth. A lack of vitamin C can lead to scurvy, a rare illness characterized by loose teeth. Those with diabetes can end up with loose teeth if they do not properly manage their blood sugar. Additionally, osteoporosis is a disease that causes the weakening of a person’s bones and is linked to a lack of calcium. This condition may also cause loose teeth. The raised estrogen and progesterone levels during pregnancy can also cause temporarily loosened teeth.
Treatment Options to Save a Loose Permanent Tooth
In many cases, it is possible to reverse the condition causing loose teeth before it is too late. Most dental treatments that save loose teeth focus on improving health with gum disease treatment at Lovett Dental Meyerland Plaza. Sometimes you just need to start using a medicated mouthwash or wear a mouth guard at night. For some patients, the dentist may recommend a metal splint that gives your loose tooth support while it heals. Your dentist may suggest root planing, a type of deep cleaning that can reverse gum disease. If you have heavily infected or damaged tissue, your dentist may recommend removing gum and bone and using a graft to replace the lost tissue. Keep in mind that if your tooth looseness is caused by a medical problem like diabetes, you will need to visit a doctor and get treatment.
Treatments at Lovett Dental Meyerland Plaza
Unfortunately, not every loose tooth can be saved. In some cases, the tooth’s root is so damaged, or the surrounding tissue is so weakened that the tooth needs to come out. If you are in this situation, you will need to talk to your dentist about treatment options for your jaw and gum, and then you can proceed to replace the tooth. A dental bridge is a type of crown that fits over your healthy teeth and provides a strong bridge to hold an artificial tooth in place. Another option can be a dental implant. This style of tooth replacement implants a screw in the jawbone that connects to an artificial tooth.
At Lovett Dental Meyerland Plaza, we are devoted to making sure our patients get the best care possible. If you have a loose permanent tooth, give us a visit instead of stressing about your teeth. We can assess the health of your gums, teeth, and jaws and suggest treatments for any problems we find. Contact Lovett Dental Meyerland Plaza at 281-974-3434 to schedule your appointment today.
