Losing a tooth, whether as a child or an adult, is a common occurrence. However, when an adult experiences a missing tooth, it can be a cause for concern. Permanent teeth are meant to last a lifetime and any signs of loosening could indicate serious dental or health issues. In such cases, it is advisable to consult a periodontist or general dentist to address potential periodontal disease.
Before the end of this article, I will give you a helpful guide on what causes loose tooth in adults. Also I will give you a list of available treatments for loose teeth. We will first look at some of the causes of loose teeth, then followed by different treatments that can save your loose teeth. (1)
What Causes Loose Teeth
As an adult, there are lots of factors that can contribute to dental health issues such as loose teeth. Loose teeth can occur due to a dental emergency or as a result of periodontal disease, which weakens the support from body tissues and bones that hold the teeth in place. When teeth do not receive enough support, they may become loose. So, here are some reasons why your teeth may be loosening.
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Osteoporosis: this is a medical condition the affects the bones found in the body. It weakens bones, making them porous, less dense and more likely to fracture. Osteoporosis leads to increased risk of bone loss, teeth loss and gum disease. A study reported that patients with osteoporosis are more likely to experience tooth loss and bones damage, than those without the disease.
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Periodontal (gum) disease: gum disease is the most common cause of loose teeth. (2) Severe gum disease such as periodontalitis, damages the gums, causing them to pull away from the teeth, thereby leaving the teeth roots exposed. The gums will gradually deteriorate, loosing its grip on the teeth. Eventually your teeth will loosen and fall out, if it’s left untreated.
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Bruxism (teeth grinding): people that do grind their teeth are more likely to have dental problems. Frequent grinding of the teeth causes the teeth to loosen in their sockets. If it’s left untreated it can result in total tooth loss.(3)
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Oral injury or accident: cases such as accidental falls, a blow to the mouth during contact sports or being struck by an object, can result to traumatic dental Injuries. Severe trauma to the teeth and gums can damage the ligament and connective tissue that hold your teeth in their sockets. It can even damage the bones supporting your teeth.. Tooth decay: severe cases of tooth decay can damage the surrounding gum tissue and other supporting ligaments holding your tooth in place. Tooth decay can make your tooth to loosen and fall out.
Treatments for loose teeth
There are numerous treatment methods that can fix mobile teeth, but they vary depending on the cause of a loose tooth. So, the dentist will determine the treatment method that you will need for your adult teeth. Loose tooth caused by tooth decay and gum disease are a bit more difficult to treat. You will need to cure or remove the underlying cause first, before treatments for healthy teeth can work.
Well, here are some emergency treatment options to save your loose tooth or teeth, including splinting and composite restoration. These mobile solutions can help stabilize and repair the damaged tooth.
1. Deep cleaning
Deep cleaning is usually recommended if your loose teeth is caused by gums disease and recession. It involves a deep dental cleaning procedure which eliminates pockets of bacteria that are responsible for the infection and damages between your gums and teeth. Deep cleaning is used to treat and also reverse gum disease. (4)
These dental cleaning treatment is divided into two parts, scaling and root planing. The first part know as scaling involves thorough cleaning of the teeth, below the gum line and down to the bottom of the pockets. It helps to remove all the plaque, tartar and harmful bacteria that must have accumulated on your teeth, gums and in the pockets between your teeth. The second part of deep cleaning, known as root planing, is carried out to restore the health of your gums and to reattach them to your teeth.
2. Bone graft
In some cases such as osteoporosis, the body might not be able to produce enough new bone like normal before. A bone graft is recommended and highly effective for new bone growth. According to Medicalnewstoday, a bone graft acts as a filler or scaffold for new bone growth. It’s suitable for treating different health conditions such as fractures, infections, and spinal fusion.
However, loose tooth treatment bones graft are available in different types, some are made using biological (natural) substances while others are synthetic. The grafts are specially designed to contain essential minerals that can promote the health and growth of the bones. The use of bone graft can help to repair the mobile teeth that you lost, maybe due to gum disease or injury.
3. Soft tissue grafts
Receding gums is among the most common cause of loose teeth. The gums are supposed to cover the teeth roots and help to hold the teeth in place. But when these gums start to pull away from the teeth due to excessive gingival recession, the teeth roots will be exposed, making the teeth to appear longer and loose. Soft tissue grafts is a dental procedure that is used to stop gum recession and also improve the esthetics of your gum line.
Soft tissue grafts can be used to cover mobile teeth roots or to develop new gum tissues. It’s usually recommended for people suffering from gum disease and recession. It’s very effective for healing damaged gums and also for the prevention of gum or tooth loss.
4. Bite splint
Although, bite splints can not actually heal your loose teeth, but it can reduce the pain and damage caused by bruxism or clenching of the teeth. The bite splint is a clear customized device that fits over your upper or lower teeth, used to protect the teeth from daily wear and tear. If you grind during sleep, you should consider wearing a bite splint before sleep.
The bite splint acts as a shield to the teeth, offering protection against the effects of bruxism or clenching of the teeth. They can give your loose teeth extra support, while preventing further loosening of your teeth.