Gum care
A loose tooth
An adult tooth should not move. If one feels loose or has shifted, this visit finds out what is holding it, or no longer holding it.
A tooth can loosen because the bone around it has been worn away by gum disease, because of a bite that is too hard on it, or after a blow. A tooth that has moved is worth a look soon. Dr. Villanueva checks how much it moves, what the bone looks like, and whether the tooth can be kept.
What Dr. Villanueva looks at
How much each tooth moves, and which ones
The bone around the tooth, on an X-ray
How your teeth meet when you bite
Whether a clenching or grinding habit is part of it
What happens, in order
The first visit is about an hour. If the tooth can be kept, treatment takes a few visits, and some teeth need a splint for a time.
- 01
Step 1: Tell us what happened
When it started, and whether anything hit your mouth.
- 02
Step 2: Checking the tooth
Dr. Villanueva tests how much it moves and measures the gum around it.
- 03
Step 3: An X-ray of the bone
It shows how much bone is left. We take it at this visit if you agree.
- 04
Step 4: What we can do, in writing
You hear whether the tooth can be kept, and what that involves, with a fee for each stage.
Before you decide
Comfort
We numb the area before we touch the tooth, and you can ask us to stop. A loose tooth can be tender to bite on, so tell us where it is.
If you wait
A loose tooth can get looser. If the bone around it keeps wearing away, the tooth may be lost, so an early look gives you more choices.
Risks and after-care
Treatment around a loose tooth can leave it sore for some days. If it cannot be kept, Dr. Villanueva goes over what replaces it. If it was knocked loose by a blow, call us the same day.
How it is billed
We give you the fee for each stage in writing before it starts, and file claims to plans we are in network with. No fee is quoted on this page.
How fees work
Questions about this visit
Will I lose the tooth?
Dr. Villanueva cannot say before he has measured and seen the X-ray. Some loose teeth can be kept, and some cannot.
Can a loose tooth tighten up again?
Sometimes, if what is loosening it is treated. Dr. Villanueva tells you what he sees and what it means for that tooth.
What if it happened after a blow?
Call us right away. If your face is swelling fast or you cannot breathe or swallow, call 911 or go to an emergency room.
Should I keep chewing on it?
Try to chew on the other side until you have been seen, and keep cleaning the area gently.
Ask about a loose tooth
Dr. Eliseo Villanueva, DDS, practices periodontics. His training and licenses are on his page.