General Dentist

Loose teeth require immediate attention from a general dentist. Without treatment, the teeth can fall out, which would result in a need for replacement. Thankfully, general dentists have a lot of treatment options.

What can cause teeth to become loose

Wondering what can cause loose teeth? Some of the more common reasons why someone would experience a loose tooth is because they are living with gum disease, have multiple crooked teeth or participate in the act of grinding and/or clenching their teeth. Additionally, teeth can become loose as a result of an accident or trauma to the face.

How to treat a loose tooth

The information below is on the topic of how a general dentist treats patients who have one or more loose teeth in their mouth. When it comes to the type of treatment used, it depends on the reason why the tooth is loose in the first place. Keep reading to find out more!

When a loose tooth is due to gum disease

Loose teeth that are caused by gum disease can often be saved. This treatment option requires patients to undergo a deep cleaning, also called a scaling and root planing procedure. This type of dental cleaning is similar to a regular dental cleaning, except for the fact that the general dentist cleans below the gum line, as well as the outer surface of the tooth. This type of gum therapy is often necessary for patients who do not undergo regular dental cleanings, which need to be performed once or twice a year.

Lost gum tissue

While losing gum tissue is often due to bacterial gum infection, there are other reasons that can cause someone to experience a gingival recession. A few of these reasons include aggressively brushing the teeth, brushing the teeth too often and using a hard-bristled toothbrush instead of a soft-bristled one. When the gums are not properly taken care of, over time, it can often lead to gum trauma. This type of loose tooth situation is often treated by using a tooth splinting procedure from a general dentist.

Grinding or clenching

When it is determined that a patient has one or more loose teeth due to grinding or clenching, their treatment will often include a bite adjustment. Bite adjustments are performed in order to reduce pressure on one or more teeth and works by reshaping the bite surface of the tooth. Reshaping the bite surface requires a general dentist to carefully remove small parts of a tooth’s enamel with a goal of reducing any pressure placed on a tooth.

Got a loose tooth?

Need to see a general dentist in order to undergo treatment for a loose tooth? Even though there are different types of reasons why someone would experience a loose tooth, all loose teeth need to be treated so that they remain healthy and strong. Reach out today to find out more or to get started with an appointment!

Request an appointment here: https://tmp.devcloud.dk or call Mass Ave Family Dentistry at (317) 218-9901 for an appointment in our Indianapolis office.

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A general dentist has a wealth of knowledge, not only about oral health but also about health issues that may affect or threaten oral health. Osteoporosis, for example, is a condition that weakens bones in the body. The health of our teeth depends on a variety of factors, including dental hygiene, hereditary tooth structure and even seemingly unrelated health problems throughout the body.

What is osteoporosis?

Osteoporosis is a condition that affects the bones, weakening them and making them easily breakable. It is characterized by low bone mass and structural deterioration of bone tissue. The body is constantly absorbing and replacing bone tissue, but with osteoporosis, the creation of new bone does not fully replace old bone. Unfortunately, the condition is widely undetectable until a fracture occurs.

Who is at risk for osteoporosis?

Women are twice as likely to develop osteoporosis, but only by a relatively small margin. The areas most affected by osteoporosis are the hip, spine and wrist, but any bone in the body can be affected. The condition mostly affects patients over the age of 40, but cases have been reported as young as 14. Even though this is a medical condition, a general dentist will have knowledge about the way it affects the teeth.

Osteoporosis and your teeth

Although osteoporosis does not affect the teeth directly, it can target the jawbone. Specifically, it affects the part of the jawbone that supports the teeth. When the jawbone is compromised, the sufferer may start to experience an increased frequency of dental issues.

Jawbone loss is likely to cause tooth loss and loosened teeth. Gum recession can occur as well. When the teeth are unsupported, they begin to loosen. The gum has less to hold onto, so it begins to recede due to disuse. As a result of this gum recession, the teeth can become more susceptible to decay and the gums more prone to gum disease. The vicious cycle continues until tooth loss occurs.

In addition to making an appointment with a general dentist to get to the root of these issues, there are ways to control and even prevent the progression of the condition.

How to avoid teeth issues associated with osteoporosis

Give your teeth the best fighting chance by first implementing a diligent oral hygiene routine. Daily brushing and flossing needs to be a top priority when you are diagnosed with osteoporosis if you want to avoid teeth problems. Regular professional dental cleanings will also help. Your general dentist will be able to work with you and come up with an action plan to treat teeth issues related to osteoporosis.

A diet rich in calcium and vitamin D can lessen the effects of osteoporosis on dental health. Vitamin D also helps in preventing infections of the mouth tissue, like gum disease. For some women, estrogen may even be a valuable treatment for dental health problems associated with osteoporosis.

Let’s get started …

Request an appointment here: https://tmp.devcloud.dk or call Mass Ave Family Dentistry at (317) 218-9901 for an appointment in our Indianapolis office.

Check out what others are saying about our services on Yelp: Read our Yelp reviews.