What Happens If You Lose an Adult Tooth?

Losing an adult tooth can be distressing, but you don’t have to live with a missing tooth forever. Keep reading to learn what happens when you lose a permanent adult tooth, whether lost teeth can grow back, at what age tooth loss occurs, how to care for loose teeth and your tooth replacement options.

Is it OK to lose a permanent tooth?

No, it is not ideal to lose a permanent adult tooth. We keep our adult teeth for life once our baby teeth fall out. However, tooth loss does happen for various reasons. The most common causes of lost permanent teeth are tooth decay, periodontal (gum) disease, injury, and tooth fractures. If you lose an adult tooth, it is crucial to replace it to maintain your oral health and smile appearance.

Can a loose permanent tooth tighten or grow back?

Unfortunately, once an adult tooth is lost or extracted, it cannot grow back or tighten on its own. Adult teeth do not have living root tissues like baby teeth do, so the tooth root cannot reattach in the socket. The best option is to replace a lost tooth with a dental restoration such as a dental implant, bridge, or partial denture. Proper tooth replacement can restore your smile and prevent oral health complications.

At what age do teeth randomly fall out in adults?

Losing permanent teeth at any age can happen, but it is most common in adults over age 40. As we age, our teeth are more susceptible to problems like advanced gum disease, fractures, and decay below older fillings. Seniors may experience tooth loss due to receding gums, dry mouth, and certain medications, too. Proper oral care and consistent visits to our dentist near me can help reduce unexpected tooth loss. Ask your dentist near you in San Diego about solutions to stabilize loose teeth.

Can salt water tighten loose adult teeth?

Using salt water as a mouth rinse will not re-tighten or save a loose permanent tooth. However, gently swishing with warm salt water can temporarily reduce pain and swelling of gums around a loose tooth. The salty solution helps draw out excess fluid and soothes inflamed gums. But it cannot stop a severely loose or damaged tooth from falling out. Prompt dental treatment is needed to try and save a loose permanent tooth.

Tooth Replacement Options in San Diego, CA

Losing one or more permanent teeth is frustrating. But Dr. Nasim Saeedi and our team at the Center for Oral Health offer excellent tooth replacement treatments to restore your smile:

• Dental Implants – Dental implants near you are the gold standard for replacing lost teeth. Implants fuse permanently with the jawbone to mimic natural tooth roots. Custom crowns or dentures can be secured onto implants for functional, stable tooth replacement.
• Dental Bridges – Dental bridges span the gap left by one or more missing teeth. The bridge is anchored on each end by crowns fitted over healthy teeth. Bridges restore your smile and ability to chew and speak normally.
• Removable Partial Dentures – Partial dentures utilize a plastic base with multiple synthetic teeth to replace several lost teeth in a row. Clasps or attachments anchor the partial denture to the remaining natural teeth. Partials are removable for cleaning.
• Full Dentures – Full dentures contain an acrylic base holding a full set of artificial teeth. The base fits snugly over the gums and remaining ridge when all upper or lower teeth are missing. Dentures can be removed daily.

Don’t settle for missing teeth or an imperfect smile. The skilled dentists in San Diego create custom treatment plans and utilize advanced techniques to replace lost teeth beautifully. Call and schedule your initial exam. During your visit, we will evaluate your tooth loss and recommend excellent options for tooth replacement in San Diego. You can smile brightly again with stable, natural-looking teeth!