The decision to undergo dental implant treatment is a significant one, often necessitated by the loss of one or more natural teeth. While it’s natural to weigh the costs and benefits of such a commitment, delaying the replacement of missing teeth can have far-reaching consequences for your oral health and overall well-being. Continue reading to learn about what can happen if you wait too long to get a replacement for missing pearly whites.
The Optimal Scenario
The optimal timing for receiving a dental implant is immediately after the extraction of the old tooth. During this time, your jawbone is readily accessible, your mouth is already numbed, and you’ll experience a single recovery period.
However, if immediate placement isn’t feasible due to time constraints or other factors, waiting for a week or two is still acceptable because the jawbone retains sufficient density for successful implantation.
What Happens if You Wait?
Delaying dental implant treatment after an extraction, whether due to physical or financial constraints, escalates the risk of it becoming unfeasible. Following an extraction, the bone surrounding the former tooth naturally begins to deteriorate as it no longer has the task of supporting a tooth.
As time passes, this process weakens the area around the extracted tooth. Without a robust bone structure to anchor onto, the titanium rod may fail to integrate properly or become unstable in a relatively short period.
Restoring Bone with a Graft
While bone loss post-extraction is an inevitable occurrence, it doesn’t render dental implants completely impossible after a certain timeframe. Dentists can, in cases where patients are suitable candidates, conduct bone grafts.
This procedure involves replacing the weakened bone with robust bone harvested from another part of your body or sourced from a donor, creating a suitable environment for implant stability. It’s reassuring to understand that even if a significant period has elapsed since an extraction, there’s still potential for dental implants, albeit with the added step of allowing time for the bone graft to successfully integrate, which may take a few months.
Additional Concerns
In addition to bone loss, various complications can potentially impede your eligibility for a dental implant. Teeth adjacent to the extracted site might shift, leading to misalignment near the extraction area, or you could experience supra-eruption, where surrounding teeth attempt to fill the gap. In these scenarios, dental implantation may still be a viable option, but it might necessitate supplementary treatments to address the resultant issues and create a suitable foundation for the implant.
In most cases, there are typically no insurmountable physical obstacles preventing you from receiving dental implants. Dentists have the ability to utilize techniques like bone grafts and other procedures to prepare your mouth for implant placement. As a result, achieving the smile you’ve always desired is still entirely attainable!
About the Practice
If you’re seeking assistance in maintaining a healthy and radiant smile, look no further! NU Dental Eatontown, under the leadership of Dr. Admasu Gizachew, is your trusted destination. They offer a comprehensive range of dental health services that cater to patients of all ages. Their commitment to providing you with the knowledge necessary for a vibrant smile is paramount. Additionally, they specialize in offering dental implants to address gaps in your smile and ensure its completeness. To schedule an appointment or obtain further information about their services, contact NU Dental Eatontown’s office at (732) 863-3899 or visit their website.