Can a slightly loose tooth heal on its own? hi, i recently had a collision with a teammate playing football and was hit in the mouth. after that i noticed that my 2nd left bottom incisor felt tender and somewhat loose when i touched it. it has been 5 days

Since : Since this was due to trauma and not progressive bone loss due to gum disease there is a good probability that the tooth will heal and tighten up. You should see your dentist asap to determine if the bone around the tooth is damaged or if you need to have the tooth stabilized with a splint.

Dr : Dr funari has given you great advice. The teeth should probably be splinted to allow uninterrupted healing of the bone. If you do not seek professional treatment, the constant movement of the teeth back and forth can cause periodontal problems and bone loss, which can result in the loss of the teeth.

It's : It's possible the tooth can heal on its own, but i recommend seeing your dentist to evaluate the area. In most cases, the tooth will be splinted or joined temporarily to the adjacent teeth for stability and to promote healing in the proper position. There is also a chance the tooth will become sensitive and require root canal soon or even years from now.

It : It very likely will firm up on its own, but it will take time. For a very short time, splinting the tooth to adjacent teeth is a good idea, but only for short time. If splinted for too long, the tooth can fuse to the bone (ankylose) which could lead to future problems. Also, the nerve of the tooth can die from trauma. It can take years to manifest itself, so you should always ask for updates on every recare (cleaning) visit. In very rare cases, trauma can lead to internal resorption, where the nerve resorbs the tooth from the inside out. This is not common but can occur.