The loose tooth, those wobbly ones, can put the heebie-jeebies into the mouth of even the most phlegmatic fellow or Ms. I suppose we have pretty fixed expectations when it comes to the solidity of our teeth. I mean, if you cannot rely on some things it’s a pretty poor show in the greater scheme of life. Have you had that dream or nightmare, where all your teeth are falling out? It is a scream. In my rendition of it, I find myself with an open palm full of teeth that have fallen out of my mouth. It is gob smackingly awful, let me tell you. Are loose teeth able to be saved? I mean in real life, in our rational waking world?

Common Causes Of Loose Tooth Issues

If gum disease is at the root of your loose tooth, and in about 70% of the loose tooth cases this is the cause, the odds are not great for saving the tooth in severe instances of this condition.

Pregnancy is another common cause of the loose tooth experience and this is most often due to hormonal changes happening within the body of the mother to be. Consult with your dentist during your pregnancy or in advance if it is a planned pregnancy. Dentists can offer much needed advice for pregnant women in relation to the care of their teeth and gums during this period.

Sporting injuries and other accidents can be another means of having loose teeth. Blows to the face and the mouth region via contact sports or a car accident can result in loose teeth.

Bruxism or grinding your teeth is another common cause for loose teeth. Stress is often at the root of clenching and grinding teeth both in your sleep and during waking hours. Many people are unaware they do this in an involuntary manner. It weakens the tooth and can contribute to gum disease forming.

And then of course having a tooth half knocked out is just as stressful as having a tooth knocked out completely. Sports, thou art the greatest culprit.

Your Dental Options When It Comes To Loose Tooth Syndrome

There are lots of different reasons why a tooth may be loose. In some instances, the news in regard to saving the tooth is not all bad. In others, however, the likely outcome is not good when it comes to any chance of saving that loose tooth.

You may be faced with having the tooth removed surgically by your dentist. Then, you must decide what you are going to do about the state of your teeth. Will you live with the gap or gaps between teeth or will you consider implants? Dental implants and gum disease are proving to have a somewhat questionable future together in the mouths of many patients.

“Dental implants are a commonly used treatment to replace both existing and missing teeth. The long-term survival rate of dental implants has been well-documented in the literature. Long-term retention of teeth in patients with moderate to advanced bone loss, who are treated with periodontal therapy and enrolled in periodontal maintenance programs, yields similar-to-higher long-term success rates.

A recent study comparing the retention rates between dental implants and natural teeth over 10 or more years in patients with a history of chronic periodontal disease found that dental implants were lost at a rate of 10 times that of natural teeth lost due to periodontal disease. With the increasing popularity of full-mouth extractions and replacement with implant-supported prostheses in lieu of teeth-saving periodontal therapy, case selection must be considered prior to implant treatment.”
– Perio Implant Advisory 

Dental implants are expensive when considered at face value, although if they prove successful what price can be put on this technological marvel that marries function with form to provide a solid basis upon which to chew on. Never underestimate the incredible force generated by the human jaw. It can exert up to 125 kg of force in a single bite. The bite is profoundly important to our psychological state, as well, I have found in my own experience. Missing teeth are more than the sum of their parts. A good chewing action provides a great deal of instinctive satisfaction and is a primal part of being a carnivorous mammal.

Future Hopes Of a Biological Solution For Gum Disease Tooth Losses

New studies are proving hopeful for a combination of mechanical and biological approaches to saving teeth from the ravages of gum disease. Gum disease is a major problem for human beings globally and often leads to the loss of teeth prematurely. Untreated gum disease turns into periodontal disease, which eats away at the tissue supporting teeth. Once healthy teeth fall victim to the ravages of this scourge affecting many in the UK, US, and Australia.

The novel treatment now being tested by scientists involves implanting membrane between inflamed gums and teeth. The membrane stops the infection from spreading and can deliver antibiotics, growth factor, and medication to the tissue around the tooth. Millions of people ordinarily lose teeth from gum disease and this new bio-technology may be the answer that dentists have been looking for. Gum disease is more serious than just a dental problem, as it is linked to life threatening medical conditions like diabetes, strokes, cardiovascular disease, dementia, and poor pregnancy outcomes.

“At present, there is no cure for periodontal disease, but it can be controlled with good home care and regular visits to the dentist. By doing these, any further loss of bone will be very slow, and it may stop altogether.
“All gum disease is caused by plaque – a film of bacteria which forms on the surface of the teeth,” adds Dr Carter.

“Catching gum disease early, before it escalates into periodontitis is vital. To prevent and treat gum disease, make sure to remove all the plaque from the teeth every day. This is done by brushing and cleaning in between the teeth with ‘interdental’ brushes or floss.

“The first sign of gum disease is blood on your toothbrush or in the toothpaste you spit out after cleaning your teeth. Your gums may also bleed when you are eating, leaving a bad taste in your mouth. Your breath may also become unpleasant.” “
– DentalHealth.org

A Good News Teeth Saving Story

Obviously, anecdotal stories have to be taken with a grain of salt. However, in this report I came across from one dental source I thought that there were aspects well worth sharing. In this account, a chap facing the loss of most of his teeth from severe bone loss shares his journey and outcomes so far. First up, the fact that he emphasises that he did not like his longtime dentist and decided to shop around was of interest. So often, many of us settle for what is presented to us, especially in regard to specialists with knowledge concerning dental or medical issues. Dental options are invariably expensive and I mean substantially so. The patient in question, one Martin Heilweil was recommended by multiple dentists to have extraction, bone grafts, sinus lifts, implants and crowns. He was looking at a six figure price tag on these major procedures and surgeries. Despite this he wanted to keep his teeth and so immersed himself in periodontics. Martin learned about osteogenesis, osteoinduction, scaffolding, osteoblasts, growth factor, and managing peri-implant bone loss.

“The first part of the treatment consisted of the deep cleanings that got me ready for the surgical part. I began to take a real interest in my hygiene (as I will explain later), as I understood this to be important to maintain the end result. The second part of my treatment consisted of putting a strap around my teeth and bonding them together. I later found out that this was a “splint” and would brace my looser teeth to those that were stronger. The third part of my treatment is better explained by Dr. Froum, but as I understand it, consisted of doing quadrants of surgery using bone grafts, growth factors, and membranes in order to “rebuild” the lost bone around my teeth. I ended up spending low-five-figure amounts, and figured I got off light since the extraction/implant plan was close to six figures.

It has been five years now, and after being initially told that most of my teeth needed to be replaced by dental implants, I have only had one extracted. Not only that, my gum and bone condition has improved such that my teeth feel much more solid and I have very little (if any) bleeding.”
– A Patient’s Perspective 

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