How to Splint a Tooth With Composite

If you have loose teeth, it not only can be uncomfortable and embarrassing, but can also cause adjacent teeth to move and pull away from the gum. Splinting teeth with composite materials is a process whereby the teeth that are loose or weakened are joined together to increase their strength.

Front teeth are the common areas that need splinting. If two or more teeth become loose, they can be joined to the surrounding, stable teeth. This procedure allows eating to become more comfortable again.

Connecting or splinting teeth also provides support for abutments for partial dentures. Two methods, extracoronal and intracoronal, are used to splint teeth today.

Instructions

How to Splint Teeth with Composites

• 1

  Ask your dentist or periodontist if you should undergo extracoronal splinting. In this procedure, the surface of the tooth is etched with a phosphoric acid. A composite resin can then be bonded to the etched surface and connected to neighboring teeth. Your dentist can further strengthen the composite-resin splint by adding fibers or a fiber mesh to the splint.

• 2

  Look into intracoronal methods for tooth splinting. In this procedure, a composite-resin is applied to adjoining teeth. They can be reinforced with metal wires, glass-reinforced fibers or pins. If you need crowns, the crowns can be splinted to each other.

• 3

  Take special care of your teeth after a tooth splinting. Brush your teeth carefully to keep the joined area clean. And get dental exams every three months to maintain the care of the splint and insure good dental care.