Dental Implants in Sillim-dong: Why Two When One Is Missing?

Hello. I am Kang Dong-ho, the director of Yonsei U-Line Dental Clinic, Sillim Branch, located in Sillim-dong, Gwanak-gu.

Once implant treatment is complete, there is one question patients ask first.

“Isn’t this too big?”

“Why are you placing two implants when only one tooth is missing?” These are common reactions.

In particular, people who have had several implants placed in the molar area often say that they feel something catching against their tongue or that it is uncomfortable.

But in fact, what matters is ‘function’ rather than size.

The shape of a tooth is determined by its top surface

When we usually look at a tooth from above, the chewing surface is important.

The same applies to implants. The final shape is created based on the shape of the visible top surface—in other words, the ‘tooth table.’

The condition of each patient’s jawbone is different.

Some people have healthy bone, so the implant can be placed relatively shallowly, while others have bone loss and need the implant to be placed deeper.

This also affects the height of the artificial tooth. If the root is short but the top surface is wide, the tooth can become bulky, which may cause food to get trapped and make it more difficult to maintain.

That is why, in some cases, we make the shape slightly slimmer.

This does not mean that it will chew less effectively, and it should not cause significant difficulty in everyday use.

Implants are vulnerable to sideways forces

Implants are strong against vertical forces.

However, they are somewhat weaker against twisting forces from side to side—in other words, forces that cause them to move laterally.

For example, if one molar is missing and a single implant is placed with one large tooth on top, it can act like a lever, causing the screw to repeatedly loosen or the implant to wobble.

In severe cases, the implant itself may be damaged.

That is why, in some situations, two implants are placed and a single tooth is attached on top to improve stability.

Why place two implants when only one tooth is missing?

This is something many people are curious about.

When one molar is missing, it can be difficult to understand why two implants are needed.

However, if the space is wide, placing only one implant can result in a bulky tooth in the middle.

This can cause food to get trapped and make it uncomfortable to use over the long term, so two implants are placed on either side and a single tooth is made between them.

Natural molars also have two roots, so reproducing that structure as closely as possible allows you to use the implant comfortably for a long time.

The number of implants needed depends on the individual condition

Ultimately, the number of implants is not determined simply by the number of missing teeth.

The treatment plan takes everything into account, including the condition of the jawbone, chewing forces, the surrounding teeth, and the final shape of the tooth.

Even in the same location, one person may need one implant while another may need two.

Placing fewer implants is not always better, and placing more is not necessarily excessive.

The most important thing is to design a safe and comfortable treatment plan suited to the patient’s oral condition.