loose Tooth
f you have a loose tooth as a result of a very recent trauma or accident, contact our office immediately!
A periapical (root-tip) abscess is a pocket of infection at the base of a tooth's root. The tooth becomes abscessed after the pulp (nerve) of the tooth becomes infected. A periapical abscess is usually caused by deep decay or an accident (trauma to the tooth involving nerve damage). A periapically abscessed tooth will require either Root Canal Therapy or an Extraction. In some cases an antibiotic will also be prescribed.
Adults
The most common cause for loose teeth among adults is Gum Disease. If you are not currently receiving treatment for Gum Disease, and you are experiencing loose teeth, contact us for a Gum Disease screening appointment.
children
The most common cause for loose teeth in children is erupting permanent teeth. As permanent teeth begin to erupt, the roots of the primary teeth (baby teeth) dissolve and the teeth become loose. Primary teeth will generally fall out on their own at the appropriate time, but if a primary tooth doesn't fall out soon after the permanent tooth erupts, contact us so we can prevent complications from a retained primary tooth.
Your child may be tempted to wiggle a loose tooth, and that is fine, but do not apply any significant pressure to a primary tooth to hasten it's removal. The primary teeth play an important role in guiding the permanent teeth into proper position.
