My tooth is loose

When a tooth is loose, what are the common causes?

1. 01

   Periodontitis (loss of supporting bone) Glossary (Korean) →

   When inflammation dissolves the bone that holds the tooth, the tooth becomes loose. It progresses without pain over a long time, so by the time you feel the looseness, a considerable amount of bone has often already been lost.

2. 02

   Occlusal trauma · tooth grinding

   Even if the bone is fine, a tooth becomes temporarily loose when excessive force is repeatedly placed on it. It recovers when the source of the force is controlled.

3. 03

   Inflammation at the root tip

   If there is a large inflammation at the root tip, only that tooth becomes loose and feels raised when you bite. It firms up once root canal treatment clears the inflammation.

4. 04

   Trauma

   A tooth that becomes loose after a blow can sometimes recover with splinting, depending on whether the root is fractured or the ligament is injured.

5. 05

   Root fracture

   When the root of a tooth that has had root canal treatment or a post splits, the tooth becomes loose and the gum swells. In most cases it is hard to keep.

6. 06

   Pregnancy · systemic conditions

   Temporary looseness during pregnancy and bone changes related to diabetes or osteoporosis also have an effect.

How does Joy Dental Clinic Bongcheon check it?

1. 1

   We measure the degree (grade 1–3) and direction of looseness and record the gum pocket depth for each tooth.

2. 2

   X-rays and CT show the height of the remaining bone, the root length and whether the root is fractured. How much bone remains relative to the root length is the key to whether the tooth can be kept.

3. 3

   A bite examination checks whether force is concentrated on a particular tooth.

4. 4

   If the tooth can be kept, we plan gum treatment + splinting if needed + bite adjustment; if it is hard to keep, we explain which of implants, bridges or dentures suits your situation after extraction.

How our equipment works is explained on the equipment page.

Which treatment does it lead to?

• Gum treatment → When periodontitis is the cause and bone remains. Removing tartar below the gum line and maintenance care stop the progression.
• Root canal treatment → When inflammation at the root tip is the cause.
• Implants → When the tooth is hard to keep and extraction is needed. We consider socket preservation at the same time as extraction.
• Dentures → When several teeth are lost at the same time, we explain this as an alternative as well.

What can I do at home before my appointment?

• Do not keep touching a loose tooth with your tongue or fingers. The ligament injury gets worse.
• Do not chew tough or hard things with that tooth.
• If gum inflammation is the cause, do not skip brushing; brush gently and carefully.
• For a tooth knocked out by a blow, do not touch the root; if you keep it in milk or saline and bring it within 30 minutes, it can sometimes be put back in place.

Frequently asked questions

1. Q1. How do you judge whether a loose tooth can be saved?

   We look together at the amount of remaining bone relative to the root length, how loose the tooth is, whether the inflammation can be controlled, and the role of that tooth (whether it is a front tooth or a molar that supports others). If more than half of the root is still in bone and the inflammation is controlled, we tend to try to keep it.

2. Q2. If I leave a loose tooth, will the neighboring teeth have problems too?

   Periodontitis does not stop at one tooth; it spreads to the neighbors, and if a loose tooth is left alone, more bone is lost at that site, which can mean a larger bone graft later if you have an implant. Whether keeping or extracting, it is better not to put off the decision.

3. Q3. If a loose tooth is splinted, can I keep using it?

   After controlling the inflammation with gum treatment, splinting the tooth to its neighbors reduces the looseness and makes chewing easier. However, splinting does not restore bone; it is a way of maintaining the tooth, so regular gum care is needed as well.

※ This page is for general information and does not replace a diagnosis. Causes and treatment differ from person to person, and treatment can have side effects. Last reviewed 2026-09-11 · Director Jeong Jinwoo (board-certified prosthodontist and specialist in integrated dentistry)

Related treatments

• Treatment Gum treatment
• Treatment Root canal treatment
• Treatment Implants
• Treatment Dentures
• Guide Symptom checker

Other symptoms

RESERVATION

Start by finding the cause

The same symptom can have different causes. After diagnosis, we explain only the treatment that is needed. Contact us through Naver Booking or by phone.

33 m from Exit 1, Bongcheon Station (Line 2) · Directions from Bongcheon Station →