What is Periodontal Splinting?

Periodontal Splinting is a form of treatment in which mobile teeth carefully splinted together therefore reducing/eliminating mobility.  However, this will not treat a gum disease, which was the cause of teeth become loose. Maintaining a high level of oral hygiene is advised in this model of treatment.

Types of Periodontal Splinting?

Periodontal splinting is an economical and well-documented dental technique. Splinting saves you the cost and pain of extraction and replacement.Temporary and permanent splints are available. Temporary is best for short-term looseness, mainly due to an injury or mechanical trauma. They come in two types: intra-coronal and extra-coronal. These differ in the way they attach to your teeth. The extra-coronal splint attaches to the outer surfaces of your teeth, by dental material such as glass fiber splint. Permanent splinting takes longer due to its advanced nature. It’s a long-term solution for mobile teeth, especially for those with reduced bone support. Each loose tooth receives a dental crown. Between them is a splint. This fuses the crowns together, creating a connected section.

When to Consult Your Periodontist?

Contact your Specialist Periodontist as soon as you notice a loose tooth. The earlier you seek treatment the better the chances of success. Otherwise, your loose teeth will cause more damage to the surrounding structures or lead to infection. It’s always a sign that a dental examination is very necessary. Personal injury is the leading cause of looseness. This can happen in a variety of ways, such as a hit to the face, a sports injury, car accident,  or even by falling. Set up an emergency dental appointment immediately. Advanced periodontal disease is another common factor. Once the disease progresses to a certain stage, which results in tooth mobility. A daily dental routine and regular dental appointments can prevent this. Lastly, teeth grinding or clenching lead as well to misalignment in certain cases. The pressure pushes your teeth out of their natural places. A night-guard can protect your teeth in this case.

 What are the treatment options for mobile teeth?

1-Doing nothing – this is not recommended if the gum disease is the cause as this might end up to premature loss of teeth. As             the teeth become more mobile they are likely to drift ( Change their positions), therefore resulting in the change of the bite               and creating spaces between the teeth and at their necks.

2-See a Periodontist, Dr.Miski to stabilise the gum disease, the teeth may appear firmer and then it is up to you whether you                  want to pro-actively have them splinted.

3-Following stabilisation of periodontal disease to have orthodontic treatment to align the teeth. In some cases, this is not                    possible, due to the bone support of teeth being compromised.

4-Have the teeth extracted and replaced with a bridge. This is a suitable option as long as the teeth supporting the bridge                      have sufficient bone structure.

5-Have the teeth extracted and have implants Prior to having implants, the patient must have the periodontal condition                        stabilised to reduce failure.  Not all patients are suitable for implants.

6-Have the teeth extracted and have dentures This is a removable appliance, replacing missing teeth and soft tissues.

7-Have the teeth splinted. This can be carried out using various techniques (outlined above).  This is least invasive, reliable                form of treatment. 

Don’t wait to contact us when you notice a loose tooth. It requires immediate treatment. Schedule your appointment with                Periodontist, Dr.Miski.