Eden Prairie Dentist | 8775 Columbine Road Eden Prairie, MN 55344 | (952) 942-0823
Splinting is most often recognized as a technique used to stabilize teeth that have become loose due to gum disease.
Periodontal disease is likely to progress and lead to further loss of teeth if left untreated. Since teeth become loose, they tend to space out and drift whenever you chew or speak even.
Periodontal splinting of teeth is one of the most effective procedures for fixing loose teeth. Patients have a number of options for teeth splinting. So, it pays to do your research and consult your doctor before choosing a treatment course.
The mechanical approach to splinting modifies forces applied to the affected teeth by treating the effects of force being applied on the periodontal ligament, and also by amending the amount of biting force generated by splinting jaw muscles and received by the teeth during biting.
Orthodontic treatment is often seen as an alternative method to splinting. It repositions teeth so that the received forces are evenly spread out.
However, it can be a complicated process to work with – especially if there is an underlying periodontal disease that must be controlled before orthodontic treatment can be successful.
We must take into consideration that periodontitis is a disease, if not adequately managed, comes with progressive attachment loss and eventually tooth loss.
On the other hand, if it is managed appropriately, involving a systematic and thorough control of the periodontal inflammation, periodontally affected teeth can be retained long-term, at limited costs.
Dental bonding and splinting costs close to $100 to $400 per tooth. This makes it an affordable way to fix minor cosmetic dentistry.
The duration of the procedure proves to be an added stress for individuals afraid of any medical procedures. Although it depends on case to case, this might give you an insight about the time you will be sparing for this task – if your tooth has loosened severely because of trauma, a dental splint is used to stabilize it while it heals.
Normally you are required to wear the splint for 14-days but in some cases again, it may take longer. At the end of the day, the long-term outlook of the teeth must be considered before deciding upon treatment options.
While temporary splinting can prove to be a short-term resort only for some, the teeth themselves may need to be replaced if the damage is severe. Hence, it is imperative to see your dentist or periodontist for a complete, thorough examination before you resort to any treatment.