Dental Splinting

What is it?

When teeth are splinted, they are joined together to increase their strength

Loose teeth caused by gum disease (the most common cause) can be remedied in a number of different ways. The initial step is to always treat the underlying gum disease. This often involves removing the bacterial plaque with scaling or root planing. If the disease is advanced, a surgical flap procedure may be needed to adequately treat the gums. Teeth that are very loose will need to be extracted, and can then be replaced by dental implants, fixed bridgework, or removable full or partial dentures.

In some cases, loose teeth are good candidates for a procedure known as "splinting". When teeth are splinted, they are joined together to increase their strength. For example, the teeth on the bottom jaw in the front of the mouth are common targets for gum disease. If two or three of those teeth become loose, they can be joined to surrounding teeth that are more stable. One common technique uses the white, resin filling material to bond the teeth together for the splint. Once the teeth are splinted, they are much more stable, and eating can become comfortable again.

After the teeth are splinted, the will require preventive maintenance. Careful brushing is of the utmost importance, and a device called a proxy brush (or other similar device) will be needed to clean between the teeth because floss will not be able to penetrate the splint. Regular dental visits, every three to six months are required to maintain the splint and insure proper dental care.