The sensation of loose and unstable molars in an adult is commonly referred to as tooth mobility. From a physiological point of view, teeth are characterized by mobility throughout life. The ligamentous apparatus is characterized by elasticity. When chewing load, the teeth are amortized. This process goes unnoticed by humans. In the case of a clear sensation of instability of the dental units, there is excessive mobility. The condition is considered abnormal and requires medical intervention.
Pathological tooth mobility
If the teeth began to move more than usual for no significant reason, most likely there is pathological mobility. The condition indicates an imbalance between dental units and soft tissues. Lack of treatment can lead to tooth loss.
Physiological mobility
Natural tooth mobility is observed in all people. It is not accompanied by a violation of stability. The mechanism is designed to evenly distribute loads on the dentoalveolar system. During chewing, micro-movements occur that do not threaten the health of the patient. Such mobility cannot be seen visually. The only indication is the grinding pads on the enamel on the sides of the crowns.
Mobility symptoms
How to understand that the teeth began to move? Feel the tooth with your finger, tongue, or toothbrush. The swaying of the incisor from side to side is a sign of mobility. In addition, there may be inflammation, discomfort during pressure and chewing. Receding gums may expose the root of the tooth.
What to do if the teeth become mobile? In most cases, symptoms indicate the development of dental diseases. Diagnosis and treatment should begin immediately.
For an accurate diagnosis, the dentist asks related questions for the presence of additional signs:
bad breath even after regular hygiene procedures
redness of the gums at the site of the problem tooth
bleeding gums during brushing
expansion of gum pockets, accumulation of food in them
hypersensitivity to cold and heat
discomfort while eating
The main causes of pathology
In some cases, problems are localized directly in the oral cavity. The dentist will make a diagnosis during the examination. If the problem is not related to a number of dental diseases, the patient needs to visit other specialists for a detailed study of the internal organs and body systems.
Causes of tooth mobility:
age-related changes
deficiency of micro and macro elements
inflammatory processes in the gum tissues (periodontitis, periodontal disease)
enlarged spaces between teeth
injuries of soft and bone tissues of the jaw
root fracture
pathological state of the endocrine, immune system
misocclusion
abnormal conditions of the dentition
excessive chewing loads
bad habits
hormonal disbalance
loss of one, several units in the dentition
cyst, flux
bruxism
bleeding gums (gingivitis)
Diagnostics in dentistry
To determine whether a tooth is amenable to treatment, a specialist needs to classify the degree of mobility. Deviation measurement is carried out with an angle probe. The dentist may use additional tools, such as tweezers. Taking an X-ray image allows you to view the state of internal tissues.
Possible Complications
The main danger of mobility is the complete loss of teeth. Pathology is accompanied by a weakening of the ligamentous apparatus between the tissues of the gums and roots. Bone tissue is also deformed. At an advanced stage of the disease, the patient may lose several dental units at once.
Tooth mobility in severe periodontitis and other diseases in the later stages is subject to treatment. For successful therapy, it is important to prevent atrophy of the soft and bone tissues of the dental system.
Preventive examination at the dentist will help to avoid the development of the disease. The frequency of visits is once every six months. Sometimes the doctor recommends taking an x-ray. Do not neglect the recommendations of a specialist.
Treatment of pathological tooth mobility
If the teeth move in an adult, the cause of the weakening of the ligamentous apparatus is first determined. Problems with bite are corrected by an orthodontist. To exclude diseases of the internal organs of the patient, they are sent for examination to specialized specialists, for example, an endocrinologist, an immunologist.
While the underlying cause is being treated, the patient should eat normally and lead a normal life. Careful care of the oral cavity will prevent the development of complications. In most cases, drug therapy is prescribed. Injections of drugs into the soft tissues of the gums allow you to restore blood circulation and nutrition of the teeth.
Therapeutic tactics are selected taking into account the general somatic status of the patient. Initially, you need to stop the inflammatory process. From professional hygiene procedures cleaning, antibacterial therapy is carried out.
In order to fix the tooth, a number of methods are used:
Splinting
High mobility of dental units is corrected by splinting. The method allows you to fix loose specimens in the early stages of the disease. A special fiberglass overlay (tire) is installed on the outer or inner part of the teeth. The retainer is thin, durable, hardly noticeable on the teeth.
The tire is attached to a group of teeth, including healthy specimens. Splinting helps to fix the loosened unit, minimizes the load on the problem tooth. The essence of fastening is that the teeth hold each other.
The splinting procedure consists of the following steps:
professional cleaning
administration of local anesthesia
drilling a shallow beard with a drill (up to 0.5 mm)
fixing the fiberglass busbar into the recess
photopolymer coating
reliable fixation of the lining with a lamp
Prosthetics
The procedure is carried out in case of loss of one or more teeth. The dentist installs a prosthesis with a gum base, fixes the design on the native teeth. Due to this, the chewing load is distributed proportionally, preventing loosening of the remaining teeth. The technique is used for mild to moderate tooth mobility.
Implantation
In the absence of any options to save natural teeth, a radical treatment technique is used – implantation with immediate loading. As a rule, it is carried out in the case of the 4th stage of pathological mobility, when the tooth has completely lost its stability. Damaged units are removed, implants are placed in the wells no later than 3 days from the date of extraction of the roots.
The method is effective for severe inflammation of soft tissues. Implants are securely mounted in the bone tissue. For implantation with mobility, special products with an antimicrobial coating are used.
Surgical method
In some cases, the defect can be eliminated with a flap operation. The surgeon makes an incision and removes excess tissue, making the socket smaller. The surgical method can also reshape the gum and compensate for the volume when the root is exposed.
Professional oral hygiene
If the cause of tooth mobility is periodontitis or periodontal disease, professional cleaning is carried out with the removal of tartar and plaque. After successful treatment of these diseases, tooth mobility is normalized.
Treatment of tooth mobility may also include physical therapy, gum massage, hardware therapy, oral anti-inflammatory drugs, and external use of antiseptics.
Prevention of tooth mobility and care at home
Home measures for the diagnosis of “tooth mobility”:
use of medicated toothpaste without whitening effect
exclusion from the diet of very solid foods, minimizing the use of nuts, apples
daily hygiene measures using an irrigator
refusal to floss
using a special toothbrush with soft bristles
Preventive measures to prevent tooth mobility:
hygienic brushing of teeth 2 times a day using dental floss
minimum artificial sweets in the diet
regular consumption of fresh fruits and vegetables
visits to the dentist 2 times a year in the absence of symptoms
hygienic cleaning at the dentist every six months
Diagnosis of tooth mobility at an early stage allows you to solve the problem with minimal discomfort and without risk to the health of the dentoalveolar system. If you find characteristic symptoms, do not postpone a visit to the dentist.