Can an adult tooth which is loose be saved? I noticed this morning that I have two loose teeth. They’re right next to each other. I don’t know if I damaged them without noticing or if something else is going on. I do know they wiggle when I move them. Is this something that can wait for a regular appointment? Do I need an emergency appointment? Can the teeth even be saved?
Amelia
Dear Amelia,
The first thing I want you to do is stop wiggling it. Your teeth have stretchy ligaments which help hold them in place. Like rubber bands they have some give. But, they can also snap when manipulated too much. The more you wiggle the teeth, the more potential of snapping the ligaments.
Any time a tooth is loose it is a dental emergency. You need to get it examined to find the reason it is loose as well as stabilize the teeth.
If they’re loose because of gum disease, you may not be able to stabilize them because there won’t be healthy enough teeth to support them. However, if trauma is the cause, your dentist can splint the loose teeth to others to keep them remain secure while they heal.
If It’s Gum Disease
With gum disease, you need to get regular treatments. If it has progressed enough to cause your teeth to start coming loose it is serious. You could end up losing all of your teeth.
See your dentist right away. He’ll recommend additional treatments along with deep cleaning until the gums are healthy again. This is likely the only way to save your teeth. Some dentists don’t feel comfortable treating advanced gum disease and will recommend you see a periodontist, who specialize in gums.
If It’s Tooth Trauma
The dentist will x-ray your teeth and stabilize them to give the ligaments time to heal. The x-rays will tell them if there is any damage to the pulp of your teeth.
If there is, a root canal treatment will be necessary after the ligaments have had time to heal. Many root canal treatments will also require a dental crown in order to protect the teeth. On front teeth, it is important you have all-porcelain crowns placed so they will look natural and blend in well.
This blog is brought to you by Des Moines Dentist Dr. Phelan Thomas.