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Loose and shaky teeth can be quite uncomfortable when eating or biting as the pressure makes them pull away from the gums and may sometimes be painful. Splinting of teeth is a procedure done to join shaky teeth to the surrounding normal, firm teeth to distribute any biting force among the joined groups of teeth rather than the individual loosened teeth.
Who needs splinting of teeth?
Normal teeth are supported by the gum, the bone and ligaments that attach them to bone. If any of these is destroyed or injured, it leads to loose teeth. Splinting is usually done after:
1. Trauma to the teeth: This can be caused by accidents, falls, fights, biting hard objects such as nails among others. Trauma leads to fracture of the bone or injury of the ligaments and loss of gum attachment.
2. Gum disease: This is the commonest cause of loose teeth. It leads to destruction of the supporting structures of the teeth, which include the alveolar bone, gum and ligaments. In this case, the destruction is irreversible and hence permanent splinting is preferred. Prior to splinting, the gum disease must be treated and the tissues should be healthy.
What are the different types of splinting?
1. Splinting wires and arch bar: This is the most popular especially in trauma cases. Splinting wires and an arch bar are used to stabilize the injured teeth to allow the surrounding bone, ligaments and gum to heal. Once the teeth are firm and tissues are fully recovered, the wires are then removed. This may last from three to eight weeks depending on the severity.
2. Tooth coloured fillings/resin: This is mostly done when teeth are mobile due to gum disease. The white tooth coloured resin filling material is used to bond the teeth together with the stable ones. Once the teeth are splinted, they are much more stable, and eating can become comfortable again. This may be done permanently.
3. Extracoronal and intracronal splints: These are rigid metals that are attached on the outside or inside of the teeth and bonded with cements.
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