Looseness, mobility or mobile teeth is caused by a disease of the periodontium and includes the tissues surrounding the teeth which are the gingiva, the bone supporting the teeth and the fibrous attachment between the bone and teeth
Infection: When there is accumulation of food debris and bacteria on the tooth, inflammation of gingiva develops due to infection. Inflammation from the gingiva spreads to the fibrous tissue between the teeth and bone and finally it affects the bone. Inflammation and destruction of bone affects the foundation on which the teeth stands causing teeth mobility. Uneven and increased amount of force during chewing can also cause mobility of the tooth.
A tumor of the bone, which causes destruction to the bony architecture, also results in tooth mobility.
Blunt injury to the tooth structure is another cause of looseness of teeth.
Patient complains of discomfort while chewing food.
Pain may accompany the mobility of teeth.
The tissues around a mobile tooth are invariably red, swollen and damaged.
Certain amount of tooth movement is always present. This movement can be felt when the teeth are clenched. Visible movement of the tooth is sufficient to diagnose tooth mobility
Cleaning the mobile tooth free of all bacterial sources may reduce mobility.
Teeth which are mobile by just a millimeter are so can be splinted to the adjacent teeth.
Teeth which are loose and which move in all direction may have to be extracted.
Splinting is a procedure where the mobile teeth are joined to the healthy teeth with the help of some materials to decrease the mobility of the affected teeth.
When teeth are splinted, they are joined together to increase their strength. For example, the teeth on the bottom jaw in the front of the mouth are common targets for gum disease. If two or three of those teeth become loose, they can be joined to surrounding teeth that are more stable.
Splinting is done on the back of the affected teeth. A ribbon like material is pasted on to the surface of the teeth with help of a dental adhesive and light cure machine. Some white filling material is also added on the ribbon to give it additional strength. The entire splint is then polished and smoothened. This is done to ensure that the tongue does not feel any roughness and does not hit it unnecessarily. The patient may feel a little uncomfortable for one or two days but that should settle down once the tongue gets used to it.
After the teeth are splinted, they will require preventive maintenance. Careful brushing is of the utmost importance, and a device called a proxy brush, or other similar device, will be needed to clean between the teeth because floss will not be able to penetrate the splint. Regular dental visits every three to six months are required to maintain the splint and ensure proper dental care.
Dr. Kamlesh Kothari is one of India's topmost Oral, Maxillofacial surgeon and Dental Implantologist...
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