Dr. Dezham
Dr. Dezham is inspired by the desire to help you achieve optimal health and provide you with the absolute best that dentistry has to offer.
Find Us:
2131 Capitol Ave
Suite 100
Sacramento, CA 95816
Find us
Patient Library
Find helpful information in our digital library.
Archive:
- 2019
- March (6)
- Lady Gaga Wasn't "Born This Way?"
- 4 Common-Sense Tactics to Lower Tooth Decay Risk Between Dental Visits
- Dental Sealants can help Prevent Tooth Decay in Children
- The 3 Top Ingredients That Make Your Toothpaste a Super Plaque Buster
- Why Alfonso Ribeiro Is Grateful for Root Canal Treatment
- Catch Root Resorption Early for Best Chances of Saving Your Tooth
- February (5)
- National Children's Dental Health Month Highlights Importance of Baby Teeth
- Composite Resin Could Amp up Your Teeth's Attractiveness in Just One Visit
- Viggo Mortensen's Red-Carpet Smile
- Here's What you Need to Know about a Root Canal Treatment
- Topical Fluoride is a Safe Way to Protect Your Child's Teeth from Decay
- January (7)
- Attention to Detail Crucial to a Beautiful Smile Supported by Dental Implants
- Healthy Smiles for Alfonso Ribeiro and Family
- 3 Things You Might Notice with Your Child's Teeth That Need a Dentist
- A Bonded Retainer Could be a Preferred Choice over a Removable One
- Less-Invasive Pulp Capping Could Save Your Tooth
- Bobby Bones Dances His Way to Dental Damage
- A Root Canal Treatment can Save Your Tooth and Relieve Pain
- 2018
- December (6)
- Orthodontists Anticipate Future Facial Growth When Treating Poor Bites
- Bitewing X-Rays Safely 'Reveal all' About Back Teeth to Prevent Tooth Decay
- J-Lo's Unlucky Break: Chipping a Tooth on Stage
- Advanced Equipment and Safe Practices Ensure X-Ray Safety for Children
- Don't give up on Flossing!
- Wisdom Teeth Warrant Close Watch to Avoid Future Health Issues
- November (6)
- NBC Star Delivers a Message about the "Perfect" Smile
- Dentures are Still a Viable Choice for Tooth Replacement
- 4 Reasons Why You May Need to See a Periodontist for Your Gum Disease
- 4 Signs Your Child May Have a Poor Bite
- Steely Dan Founder's Death Highlights Importance of Early Cancer Detection
- Practice Caution with Energy or Sports Drinks to Protect Your Enamel
- October (6)
- Watch What Carbs You Eat to Reduce Your Risk of Further Gum Disease
- Stay Ahead of Plaque Buildup with Effective Brushing and Flossing
- Why Big Bang Theory Actress Mayim Bialik Couldn't Have Braces
- What You Should Know About a Home Teeth Whitening Kit
- Inflammation: the Link Between Gum Disease and Cardiovascular Disease
- 3 Factors That Could Affect the Success of a Root Canal Treatment
- September (6)
- Dental Injury Is Just a Temporary Setback for Basketball Star Kevin Love
- Don't Wait - Seek Out Treatment for Gum Recession Now
- See Your Dentist if You're Having one of These 3 Dental Problems
- It's National Gum Care Month - Take Care of Your Gums
- Margot Robbie Knows: A Great Smile Is Worth Protecting
- Not all Dental Crowns Share the Same Quality of Life-Likeness
- August (6)
- Veneers may Offer a Less Invasive Way to Transform Your Smile
- Take Care of Your Dental Appliance and It Will Take Care of You
- A Different Kind of "Chip Shot" for Pro Golfer Danielle Kang
- Have Your Loose Tooth Examined as Soon as Possible
- 3 Reasons You Should Consider Tooth Whitening
- Pros and Cons for Flossing Before Brushing and Vice-Versa
- July (6)
- Noah Galloway's Dentally Dangerous Dancing
- Practice Proactive Prevention to Enhance Your Child's Dental Development
- Tips to Brighten Your Summer Smile
- Replacing a Back Tooth May Help You Avoid Future Dental Problems
- Any Time, Any Place: Cam Newton's Guide to Flossing
- 4 Important Facts About Gum Recession and What You can do About It
- May (7)
- Baseball's Francisco Lindor Shines as "Mr. Smile"
- Assessing Your Risk for Severe Gum Disease
- 4 Things You Should be Doing Now for Your Baby's Long-Term Dental Health
- What to Do For Mouth Injuries Your Child Might Encounter
- Neil Patrick Harris: What the Oscars Host Treasures Most
- Bone Loss at the Roots can Put Your Tooth in Danger of Loss
- Why we Need to Care for a Younger Patient's Bone after a Tooth Loss
- April (5)
- Topical Fluoride can Enhance Your Child's Dental Care
- Julianne Hough Shares a Video - and a Song - After Wisdom Teeth Come Out
- If You're not a Good Candidate for Dental Implants, Consider Bridgework
- Keep Your Smile Beautiful...in April and Beyond
- 3 Things You Need to Know about Easing Anxiety Over Dental Visits
- 2017
- June (5)
- Not All Bacteria are Harmful to Oral Health
- Fifth Harmony's Camila Cabello Chips a Tooth, but Concert Still "Worth It"
- Screw or Cement: Which is Best for Attaching Your Implant Crown?
- Teeth Grinding in Older Children and Adolescents a Cause for Concern
- Dealing with the Reality of Increased Disease Risk with Braces
- March (5)
- Dr. Travis Stork: If Only I'd Worn A Mouthguard!
- Don't let Limited Finances Keep you From Needed Dental Care
- Antibiotics Before Implant Surgery Could Lower Infection Risk in Some People
- The Top 3 Oral Problems in America - and What You Should Do About Them
- How Kathy Bates Retains Her Movie-Star Smile
- 2016
- December (5)
- Transform Your Smile and Dental Health by Correcting Your Bad Bite
- Keep Ahead of Potential Sidetracks to Your Child's Oral Health
- Help 'De-Stress' Your Child's Dental Visits with these Tips
- Dwight Howard: A Bright NBA Star With a Smile to Match
- Non-Prescription Pain Medication can Manage Most Post-Procedure Discomfort
- September (5)
- 4 Things to Give Your Child a Head Start on Good Oral Health
- Treating "Burning Mouth" Depends on What's Triggering it
- Game, Set, Match: Milos Raonic Says A Mouthguard Helps Him Win
- Encourage Your Child to Stop Thumb Sucking by Age 4
- What's Causing Your Toothache? The Answer Determines Your Treatment
- July (5)
- Consult Your Dentist for Help with Diagnosing and Treating Sleep Apnea
- Master Illusionist Benefits from the Magic of Orthodontics
- Clear Aligners Reduce Risk for Developing Gum Disease Better than Braces
- Increase Bone Mass for Dental Implants through Grafting
- Teens Benefit Most from A Temporary Solution to Missing Teeth
- May (5)
- Dental Porcelain is a Great Option for Creating a Natural Appearance
- Even Celebrities Like Jennifer Lawrence Aren't Immune From Bad Breath!
- Home Whitening Kits are Safe and Effective, if Used the Right Way
- Root Canal Treatment Alleviates Pain and Saves Your Tooth
- Create a Strategy to Deal with Dental Problems to Avoid Future Expenses
- 2015
- January (5)
- It's an Art: Determining Tooth Color in Composite Resin Restorations
- Taking the Right Steps to Prevent Early Tooth Decay in Children
- Four Tips for Preventing Premature Loss of Baby Teeth From Tooth Decay
- Actress Florence Henderson Shares Her Secrets for Keeping Your Natural Teeth as You Age
- Test Your Knowledge: A Quiz on Dental Erosion
- 2014
Tags
- celebrity smiles (63)
- sleep apnea (2)
- dental implants (20)
- dentures (6)
- dental erosion (1)
- oral hygiene (31)
- oral health (19)
- pediatric dentistry (16)
- tooth decay (11)
- fillings (2)
- dental exam (1)
- orthodontics (10)
- retainers (3)
- gum disease (20)
- root canal (6)
- blood pressure medications (1)
- medicine (1)
- x-rays (2)
- removable partial denture (1)
- bridge (2)
- porcelain veneers (6)
- smile makeover (1)
- cosmetic dentistry (12)
- tmj disorders (3)
- tmd (2)
- tmj (1)
- root planing (1)
- laser dentistry (1)
- dental specialists (1)
- ulcers (1)
- canker sores (1)
- braces (11)
- crown lengthening (1)
- teeth whitening (9)
- birth control (1)
- tooth grinding (1)
- palatal expander (2)
- orthodontic treatment (19)
- sedation dentistry (2)
- crowns (5)
- teeth wear (1)
- missing tooth (1)
- infection control (1)
- pediatric care (1)
- anchorage devices (1)
- antibiotics (1)
- dental sealants (2)
- thumb sucking (4)
- fluoride (2)
- wisdom teeth (4)
- implant overdentures (1)
- chewing tobacco (1)
- root canal treatment (5)
- bad breath (1)
- tooth replacement (2)
- bone grafting (3)
- clear aligners (2)
- snoring (1)
- trigeminal neuralgia (1)
- facial pain (1)
- toothache (3)
- mouthguards (3)
- burning mouth syndrome (1)
- chipped teeth (1)
- abscessed tooth (1)
- veneers (2)
- pain management (1)
- dental injuries (1)
- jaw pain (1)
- bonding (2)
- gum recession (3)
- mouthguard (1)
- dental injury (8)
- missing teeth (1)
- periodontal disease (3)
- athletic mouthguards (1)
- teeth grinding (2)
- bruxism (1)
- chipped tooth (4)
- bacteria (1)
- pregnancy (1)
- interceptive orthodontics (1)
- saliva (1)
- space maintainer (1)
- dry mouth (1)
- tooth pain (1)
- nutrition (3)
- cleft lip (1)
- cleft palate (1)
- oral surgery (1)
- wedding day smile (1)
- tooth extraction (1)
- smoking (1)
- loose teeth (1)
- dental care (1)
- bridgework (1)
- topical fluoride (2)
- tooth loss (1)
- bone loss (1)
- bone graft (1)
- partial denture (1)
- dental emergency (1)
- loose tooth (1)
- retainer (1)
- sports drinks (1)
- oral cancer (1)
- flossing (1)
- x-ray (1)
- pulp capping (1)
- bonded retainer (1)
- composite resin (1)
- baby teeth (1)
- root resorption (1)
- eating disorder (1)
Categories:
Have Your Loose Tooth Examined as Soon as Possible
A loose permanent tooth is not a good thing—and not something you should put off having examined. That’s because a loose tooth could soon become a lost tooth.
How we treat it depends on its underlying cause, which could be one of two types. One is primary occlusal trauma, meaning the affected tooth has experienced accidental trauma or higher biting forces than it normally encounters. This usually happens because of teeth grinding habits.
It could also be secondary occlusal trauma. Unlike primary trauma where the supporting gums and bone may be reasonably healthy, secondary trauma occurs because these structures have been severely damaged by periodontal (gum) disease. As the gums begin to detach from a tooth and its underlying bone deteriorates, even normal biting forces can loosen it.
If gum disease is present, our first priority is to bring it under control. We do this primarily by removing all dental plaque (a thin film of bacteria and food particles that triggers the infection and sustains it) and calculus or tartar (calcified plaque). This can take several sessions and, in the case of deep infection, may require a surgical procedure.
On the other hand, if teeth grinding is the primary cause, we’ll focus on minimizing the habit and its effects. One way is to create a custom-fitted guard worn to prevent upper and lower teeth from making solid contact. You may also need to improve your management of stress—another factor in teeth grinding—through medication, therapy or biofeedback.
In either case, improved periodontal health will help the gums naturally regain their strong attachment with help, if necessary, from gum tissue or bone grafting surgery. But this healing process can take time, so we may need to secure a loose tooth in the interim by splinting it to neighboring stable teeth. This usually requires bonding rigid material or metal across the back of all involved teeth or in a channel cut along the teeth’s biting surfaces. In this way the more stable teeth support the loose one.
Splinting may be temporary as the mouth heals from disease or trauma and the teeth regain their stability. In some cases, though, it may be permanent. Either way, dealing promptly with a loose tooth can help ensure it’ll survive—so see your dentist as soon as possible.
If you would like more information on treating loose teeth, please contact us or schedule an appointment for a consultation. You can also learn more about this topic by reading the Dear Doctor magazine article “Treatment for Loose Teeth.”