Does a Long Time Since Tooth Extraction Always Mean You Need Dentures? Garak-dong Dental Clinic

Does a Long Time Since Tooth Extraction Always Mean You Need Dentures? Garak-dong Dental Clinic

Hello. I am Shin Seung-hwan, the representative director of Yonsei U-Line Dental Clinic.

Today, I have prepared an opportunity to address the concerns of people who had a tooth extracted a long time ago without proceeding with treatment right away.

Many of you may be wondering whether you can still receive an implant if you visit the dentist now, even though a lot of time has passed, and whether having had a tooth extracted long ago means you will inevitably need dentures.

In fact, because there are individual differences, the most reliable way to find out is to visit a nearby dental clinic and undergo an examination.

Many people first try to consult through a clinic's website or by phone before visiting in person.

There can be a significant difference between simply hearing an explanation and the results of an actual examination.

In particular, whether an implant is possible can only be determined by taking X-rays to check the condition of your jawbone—such as its amount and volume.

In other words, if it has been a long time since your tooth was extracted, whether an implant is still possible or whether you have no choice but to get dentures can only be accurately determined after an examination.

Even so, some of you may want to come in with at least a general idea of what to expect.

So from this point on, let's discuss whether implants may be possible even after a long time has passed.

​ Immediately after a tooth is first extracted, the bone fills in, but if the empty space is left untreated, the bone that filled in gradually resorbs and disappears.

Once a significant amount of bone has been resorbed in this way, implant placement becomes difficult.

In fact, even if people who have used dentures for a long time wish to switch to implants, implant placement is often not possible because irritation from the dentures has caused the jawbone to recede, leaving an insufficient amount of bone.

As such, implant surgery may be difficult when it has been a long time since the tooth was extracted or when dentures have been used for an extended period.

The amount of alveolar bone is important when determining whether implants are possible because it needs to hold the implants securely.

The jawbone itself is relatively thick and broad in the molar region, where the teeth are larger.

Therefore, even after some time has passed, the amount of bone at the site of an extracted molar is often adequate for an implant to be possible.

In contrast, in the front-tooth region, where the teeth themselves are narrower and smaller, implant treatment can be difficult if treatment was not performed in time and the area was left untreated, or if a long time has passed since bridge treatment.

In some cases, the condition and amount of jawbone are sufficient, but the surgery itself may be difficult due to the patient's overall health.

For people who need to continue taking blood-thinning medication, such as aspirin, without stopping, or for whom surgery involving substantial bleeding would be difficult, dentures may be chosen instead of implants even when there is sufficient bone.

The financial aspect can also be important.

People who are completely edentulous may need at least 10 implants, which can be a significant financial burden, so they may choose dentures instead.

If you want implants but find the cost burdensome, and if you are reluctant to choose dentures because of their discomfort, there is also the option of implant-supported dentures, a treatment that combines the two.

Implant-supported dentures are basically dentures, but instead of relying on the gums and jawbone, they obtain retention from implants, which helps keep the dentures from moving as much.

If approximately 4–6 implants are placed in the upper jaw and 2–4 in the lower jaw, you can use dentures while still having a relatively comfortable denture experience.

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