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Tooth loss is a common problem we see with our geriatric patients. Sometimes only part of the tooth breaks off and the rest is still in the mouth connected to the bone by the root. This is quite common, and many caregivers turn to us for a second opinion after being told by a regular dentist that an extraction is needed. There are many reasons why a tooth may break off, and extraction isn’t always needed to solve the problem.
What Causes Tooth Loss?
Tooth loss can be caused by decay, but the most common reason for a patient breaking a tooth is that they are grinding their teeth. Over time, the constant grinding will weaken the teeth and eventually cause them to break. This can be painful, but some patients don’t experience symptoms because the nerves in the teeth tend to thin out as we age. If the root is healthy and the patient isn’t in pain, we don’t typically extract the tooth. If we don’t have to subject an elderly patient to surgery, we are going to leave the tooth alone and find an alternative solution.
What You Should Do if Your Loved One Breaks a Tooth
If your loved one breaks a tooth, you should contact us immediately. We will ask for pictures to see if the whole tooth came out or if the top piece is broken off. We will make a house call, assess the situation, and decide whether to extract the tooth or take a different route. If we find that grinding is the cause of the breakage, we will take an impression of the patient’s mouth and create an anti-grinding appliance they can wear to break the habit. This is a very effective solution, but you will need to monitor them to ensure they don’t grind through the grinding guard or try to eat it. This rarely happens, but we will provide you with instructions to monitor them.
