by Monika Pawar, MS Last updated on April 22, 2019,
Loose wisdom teeth in adults
Wisdom teeth are the third set of molars that appear in adulthood usually between ages 17 and 21. The position of some of the wisdom teeth is such that it is difficult to clean them. So, the risk for various oral diseases is high.
One of those is loose wisdom tooth. A loose tooth may cause other problems such as:
- Mouth pain and discomfort, especially when chewing
- Infection of the surrounding gums
- Damage to neighboring teeth in lack of proper hygiene
- Tooth decay due to lack of brushing
Loose wisdom tooth pain
Wobbly wisdom tooth is another term to explain that wisdom tooth is loose. A loose wisdom tooth can occur due to dental caries, abscess, cysts formation, gum diseases, etc. If a wisdom tooth feels loose, it might result in pain often referred to as wisdom tooth pain which can result in teeth fall out.
Loose wisdom tooth pain can sometimes be excruciating and might lead to swelling of gums. It can also lead to stiffness in the jaw near the impacted tooth. Several treatments are recommended for wisdom tooth pain relief such as antibiotics or over the counter pain relievers, antiseptic mouth wash, etc. In severe cases, extraction is the final treatment for loose wisdom tooth pain relief.
Listed below are some commonly recommended treatment options for relief from the pain due to loose wisdom teeth.
Treatment for a loose wisdom tooth
Before continuing the treatment, the dentist considers many factors to decide whether the loose tooth can be repaired.
- If the wisdom tooth is slightly loose, and it is an important part of chewing, then the dentist may recommend some measures to treat the wobbly wisdom tooth.
- If the wisdom tooth is very loose and can fall out anytime, the dentist may recommend the extraction of wisdom tooth.
More: Loose Adult Tooth, Loose Tooth Pain in Adults
More: Missing Tooth Replacement Options, False Teeth Options (Dentures, Dental Implants, Tooth Implants)
Extraction of wisdom tooth (wisdom teeth removal)
Wisdom tooth extraction is another name for wisdom teeth removal. It is a normal procedure done on many people to help them prevent the complications of loose wisdom tooth which can cause tooth loss.
Extraction of wisdom teeth is one solution but it's not always required. During wisdom teeth removal, your dentist or oral surgeon:
- Makes an incision in the gum to create flaps so that the tooth and bone can be exposed
- Removes any obstruction bone that may block the access to the tooth
- Divides the tooth into sections so that the tooth can be easily removed
- Removes the tooth
- Cleans the area where extraction is performed
- Stitches the wound, however, it is not always required
- Control bleeding by placing gauze over the site of the removed tooth. This leads to the formation of a blood clot.
After removal of wisdom tooth, the missing teeth can be replaced with dentures, bridges and implants. Read about missing teeth replacement options.
More: What is Tooth Loss (Edentulism): Causes, Prevention, Complications, and Treatment
Non-extraction approaches
If the loose wisdom teeth are in a position that can be treated easily and eventually can be managed, then wisdom teeth removal procedure can be avoided.
The following measures can be taken to fix the tooth.
Bone grafting
If the wisdom tooth has become loose due to bone deterioration, the doctor suggests bone grafting. In this method, the fragments of bone are taken from another area of patient’s body or a special bone grafting material is used to repair diseased bone. It supports the teeth and tightens it.
Splinting
In a splinting procedure, a piece of metal is used to bond two neighboring teeth. This gives the loose tooth extra support and keeps it tightened.
For wisdom tooth, intra-coronal splints are used. In this, a small channel is cut into the teeth and a rigid custom-formed metal splint is inserted into the channel. Finally, the teeth are bonded or cemented to stabilize the teeth.
Intra-coronal metal bar splint is designed in such a way that they can be used to stabilize loose back teeth (premolars and molars) where biting forces are greater.
Mouthguard
Mouth guard creates a protective barrier between the upper and lower teeth and thus prevents teeth grinding which is also the main reason for loose teeth.
More: Loose Tooth Treatment: How Do You Strengthen a Loose Tooth?
Keeping Wisdom Teeth Healthy
Some measures can be adopted to keep the wisdom teeth healthy. These measures include:
- Good oral hygiene including better brushing and flossing
- Use an electric toothbrush into your cleaning routine for effective cleaning, if possible
- More frequent or extensive dental cleanings (scaling and root planing)
- Gum surgery to improve the tooth-gum relationship which enhances adequate cleaning
