Loose Teeth and Bite Problems

While a loose baby tooth is perfectly normal, a loose adult tooth is something to be concerned about. Painful and unpleasant, a loose permanent tooth may fall out, need extracting, or cause serious bite problems. This can all be avoided, but it is imperative that you seek professional dental care as soon as possible. If left untreated, your condition will only get worse by causing other serious oral problems and it might be very challenging to treat if enough time has passed.

Loose Teeth Causes and Treatments

There are a variety of dental conditions that can cause loose adult teeth, including:

  • Periodontal disease: Due to poor dental hygiene, plaque and tartar invade the crevices between your teeth and under your gum line. This causes a bacterial disease that makes the gums pull away from your teeth and weakens tooth support. This leads to loose teeth and the inability for your jawbone to withstand biting forces, which causes significant bone loss. When periodontal disease is severe enough, loose teeth may fall out.
  • Bruxism: Also known as teeth clenching or grinding, bruxism causes too much biting force, leading to the stretching of periodontal ligaments that support the teeth and bone. Over time with this constant pressure, it will cause jaw pain, worn down teeth, bone loss, and ultimately, loose teeth.
  • Trauma: Physical oral trauma, such as through high contact sports, can also cause loose teeth.

For loose teeth caused by periodontal disease, the best thing you can do is visit your dentist for a professional cleaning. Once all the accumulated plaque is washed away from those hard to reach areas and underneath your gums, loose teeth will often reattach themselves to the gums. Loose teeth due to bruxism can be treated with a custom fitting mouthguard or dental splints. Dental splints can also be used for oral trauma resulting in loose teeth.

Bite Problem Causes and Treatments

Bite problems can appear in different forms, such as overbites, underbites, crossbites, open bites, and crowded teeth, and affect children, teens, or adults. Bite problems are typically caused by:

  • Crooked teeth: A patient can experience crooked teeth by a childhood history of thumb sucking or tongue thrusting, or simply through genetics. Crooked teeth cause a misaligned bite.
  • Genetic disposition: Genetics play a major role in what size jaw you are dealt, which can affect your bite. Typically, when a patient is born with jaw problems, they are more likely to also develop bite problems.

Early treatment of jawbone problems can significantly benefit young patients, allowing developing bones and teeth to grow properly and prevent more serious problems in the future. Orthodontic treatment options, such as traditional metal braces or clear aligners, are commonly used to correct bite problems and crooked teeth at the same time. Another option for correcting bite problems is using a custom made mouthguard or dental splint.

Treatment Benefits

Treating your loose teeth or bite problems offers a wide range of advantages, including:

  • Improved tooth mobility: Deep cleanings by your dentist reduces inflammation and gum detachment, and promoting tissue regeneration and pain relief.
  • Proper distribution of biting forces: Aligned teeth create a more stable distribution of biting forces, removing unnatural pressure on your teeth.
  • Protection of tooth structure: The consistent use of a mouthguard prevents bruxism from wearing down and weakening your teeth. It can also prevent serious physical oral trauma when playing high contact sports.
  • Good oral health encourages good overall health: Visiting your dentist on a regular basis is crucial for addressing any onset of oral problems before they become more severe. Taking good care of your oral health benefits your overall health by decreasing the risk of developing systemic diseases, as the two are connected.

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What Our Clients Say About Us

  • "Dr. Katz is attentive to his patients' needs, always careful to ensure the patient's comfort...It's a friendly office with impeccable service. They will take good care of you!
    Over the years, Dr. Katz and his team have provided me with an extremely high level of care and personal sensitivity. He has earned my trust."
    Jim Velleco - Marblehead, MA
  • "I have had a lot of dental work done during my life--orthodontia, fillings, crowns, implants, root canals, a bridge--and Dr. Katz is by far the best dentist I've ever seen. In addition to being a superior craftsman with a lot of experience, Dr. Katz is attentive to his patients' needs, always careful to ensure the patient's comfort. His staff, several of whom have been working with him for decades, is likewise excellent. It's a friendly office with impeccable service. They will take good care of you!"
    Sandra Doherty
  • "Awesome Doctor and team - have been going to Dr. Katz's practice for over 20 years and the professionalism, care and attention are superb. They are warm, welcoming, caring and a pleasure to go to. Highly recommend them - with a warm smile!!!
    The professionalism, care and attention are superb. They are warm, welcoming, caring and a pleasure to go to."
    Paul Romano
  • "I travel from Woburn to Salem for my dental needs because there is no other dentist that I trust more than Dr. Katz. I am impressed with his professionalism and drive to stay on top of the best dental techniques. He and his team treat my wife and me like family. I highly recommend Dr. Katz!
    There is no other dentist that I trust more than Dr. Katz. I am impressed with his professionalism and drive to stay on top of the best dental techniques. He and his team treat my wife and me like family."
    Rob Dealy
  • "It’s not “Cheers” and they don’t serve beer, but it is a place “where everybody knows your name.” They know your family, too. And you know theirs. After 25 years here, for me it’s not just about having clean teeth. It’s about catching up with old friends, sharing what’s going on and caring about each other."
    Eugenia Fountain - Salem, ma
  • "They are thorough, careful and up to date on new techniques. One never feels like a "number" because there is very little staff turnover...We recommend them without hesitation.
    If you're looking for top-notch customer service, a welcoming staff, and valuable take-home knowledge, make an appointment with Dr. Katz. My mouth and I have had nothing but positive experiences in his care."
    Mike Briddon - Swampscott, MA
  • "Dr. Katz makes me feel like I'm the most important patient he has. He is calm, relaxed, informative, patient and gentle...I have heard nothing but positive feedback from the people I've sent
    Thank you for over 20 years of compassionate and technically excellent dental care."
    Christine Kowal - Swampscott, MA
  • "We come from Wakefield to see Dr. Katz. He has been our family dentist for the last 10 years and my husbands dentist since he was a kid. Today my very anxious 7 year old had to have a tooth pulled and Dr. Katz did a wonderful job at making him comfortable. My son got through the experience with flying colors and no tantrums. We would highly recommend him as a dentist!"
    Nicole Jennings
  • "My husband and I are long term patients of this practice because of the trust it has earned with us over time. They are thorough, careful and up to date on new techniques. One never feels like a "number" because there is very little staff turnover .....clearly a plus. We recommend them without hesitation!"
    Michelle Genereux

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Hours below do not reflect our 'temporary' modified schedule. Please call the office for details.

Monday:

8:00 am-5:00 pm

Tuesday:

12:00 pm-8:00 pm

Wednesday:

8:00 am-5:00 pm

Thursday:

7:00 am-4:00 pm

Friday:

Closed

Saturday:

Closed

Sunday:

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