What Should I Do If My Permanent Tooth Is Loose?

A permanent tooth, once lost, will not grow back. If your tooth moves more than 1 millimeter, it can be a sign of underlying dental problems or injury requiring a dental checkup. At Smile Arizona Dentistry, our expert professionals will diagnose the cause of your loose tooth and provide appropriate treatment to save it or provide other care options.

Can a Loose Permanent Tooth Tighten Back Up?

This depends on what caused your tooth to be loose. If it gets slightly loose because of a mild injury, it will tighten on its own once the root heals over time. However, a dental visit is required for a severely loose tooth (that moves even at the slightest touch).

Our dentist can stabilize your wiggling tooth with a temporary or permanent splint (a type of resin), depending on the extent of the damage. The splint bonds the loose tooth to healthy neighboring teeth on either side, providing extra support to keep it from moving.

What Causes a Loose Permanent Tooth?

Your permanent tooth can become loose due to:

1. Gum Disease (Periodontitis): Periodontitis is a severe gum infection that damages the gum tissues, causing them to recede. If left untreated, it can loosen your teeth. Besides, bacteria and tartar buildup associated with gum disease can damage the tooth roots and bone, making your tooth wiggle.
2. Trauma/Injury: Your teeth can become loose if an injury to your mouth damages the tooth root and surrounding gums.
3. Osteoporosis (Weakening of Bones): If you have osteoporosis, your jawbone (that supports and holds your teeth) may lose its density, causing your tooth to wiggle.
4. Pregnancy: Hormonal imbalances during pregnancy can affect the bones and ligaments in your mouth that hold your teeth and loosen them.
5. Bruxism (Teeth Grinding): Grinding or clenching puts pressure on your teeth, making them loose over time.
6. Medications: Calcium is necessary for healthy and strong bones, but some medications, such as bisphosphonates and phenytoin, make it difficult for your body to absorb calcium. Prolonged intake of such medicines can weaken and loosen your teeth.
7. Diabetes: Uncontrolled diabetes can aggravate your gum disease, thus loosening your teeth.

How to Prevent Loose Permanent Tooth

Here are some ways to reduce your risk of having a loose permanent tooth:

• Practice good oral hygiene to ensure better dental health throughout your lifetime
• Visit your dentist for regular checkups and professional cleanings
• Avoid smoking or chewing tobacco as these can cause gum disease
• Keep your blood sugar levels in check
• Wear a mouthguard while sleeping (to prevent bruxism) or playing sports (to prevent injuries)

How Do We Treat a Loose Tooth at Smile Arizona Dentistry?

At Smile Arizona Dentistry, we will treat your loose tooth with any of the following treatment options, depending on the severity of your condition and how early it is diagnosed:

• Scaling and Root Planing – A deep cleaning procedure that treats and reverses gum disease by removing plaque and tartar
• Antibiotics or Antiseptic Mouth Rinses – Helps heal infected gums while destroying bacteria in the mouth
• Surgery – Involves removing inflamed or damaged tissues and reattaching gums to fit around the tooth
• Bone Grafts – Involves removing fragments of bone from one part of your body and grafting them in your jaw to rebuild the bone lost to gum disease
• Gum Grafts/Soft Tissue Grafts - Involves removing soft tissues and implanting them in places where gums have receded because of periodontitis

Stop worrying about your loose permanent tooth. Schedule an appointment with us to get it fixed today!

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