While you may have been excited to feel a loose tooth in your mouth as a child, it’s a whole different ball game when it happens to you as an adult. A loose permanent tooth may be lost forever if you don’t act quickly.
Whether it happened due to an injury, teeth grinding, gum disease, or some other reason, a dentist might be able to save your tooth. Follow the four steps below to get the help you need.
1. Don’t Panic
Keeping calm is the most important thing to do when you have a loose adult tooth. While this symptom does mean something is wrong, it’s not the end of the world. Try not poke or wiggle the loose tooth. If you leave it alone, there’s a better chance that the root will remain intact and eventually tighten again.
2. Call Your Dentist
Call your dentist immediately when you notice that your tooth is loose. Depending on what happened and how severe the problem is, your dentist may recommend that you come in for an emergency appointment.
Otherwise, book an appointment for a dental exam as soon as possible. You’ll need your dentist’s help to find out why your tooth is loose, whether there is any other damage to worry about, and what can be done about the problem.
3. Discuss Your Options
Once your dentist has taken a look at your tooth, they’ll let you know what’s wrong with it and how it can be fixed. They may recommend any of the following:
- A periodontal deep cleaning
- A splint
- Dental bonding
- A nightguard
Sometimes more than one form of treatment may be needed. The goal is to stabilize the tooth and treat any underlying problems that caused it. There are no guarantees, but professional intervention may be enough to save your tooth.
4. Decide on a Replacement
If it turns out that your tooth cannot be saved, your dentist will safely extract it for you. Then it’s up to you to decide if you want to replace it. Some common options to replace missing teeth include:
- Implants
- Dentures
- Bridges
Each option has its pros and cons. If you aren’t sure which is best for you, ask your dentist about it.
You don’t have to replace a missing tooth right away, but sooner is generally better. The longer you wait, the more likely it is that you’ll experience complications like bone loss or shifting teeth.
When Your Tooth Is Loose, Call Coscarella Dentistry
Don’t let a loose tooth take over your life; call Coscarella Dentistry instead. We’ve treated people of all ages with loose teeth due to all sorts of dental problems. We’ll use all of our professional expertise to try and save your tooth – and if we can’t, we’ll help you install a quality replacement. Contact us at 519-969-8171 or use our contact form to book an appointment today.
