Sillim Station Dentist – Q&A on Pain in Baby Teeth, Loose Front Teeth, and Implants for Patients with Diabetes

Hello. We are 연세유라인치과의원 Sillim Station Branch, located near Sillim Station in Sillim-dong, Gwanak-gu.

Today, we have prepared answers to questions about implants that were submitted through the comments.

• My baby tooth hurts. Do I need an implant?

Some adults still have baby teeth.

This usually occurs when the permanent tooth has been unable to erupt or is missing altogether.

The problem is that when a baby tooth becomes sensitive and painful, it is often not simply an issue with the tooth itself. In many cases, the bone is being broken down through the tip of the baby tooth’s root, meaning that alveolar bone loss is progressing.

When this happens, the pain can become more severe, and you may miss the appropriate timing for an implant or require additional bone grafting surgery.

Therefore, it is not advisable to think, “Shouldn’t I just leave it until it becomes loose?”

Waiting for the tooth to fall out naturally may instead increase bone loss.

After confirming the condition with an X-ray, if there is no permanent tooth beneath the baby tooth, extraction followed by consideration of an implant is appropriate. In rare cases, the permanent tooth may be deeply impacted. In such cases, the impacted permanent tooth, along with the baby tooth, may also need to be surgically extracted.

• Why do the front teeth feel loose after sleeping on my stomach?

A question was submitted about feeling that the front teeth were loose after waking up from sleeping on the stomach.

Healthy teeth do not become loose simply because pressure has been applied to them.

In such cases, there is a strong possibility that an underlying cause already exists, such as gum problems, malocclusion, or periodontal disease.

Therefore, it is difficult to view this as a phenomenon caused simply by pressure. An X-ray examination and oral checkup are essential to identify the exact cause.

• Can patients with diabetes receive implants?

People with high HbA1c levels and poorly controlled diabetes often have questions about whether implant surgery is possible.

A dental clinic does not independently determine whether the procedure is “possible” or “impossible.”

The dental clinic refers the patient to an internal medicine specialist who best understands the patient’s overall health. After receiving a response, the clinic decides whether to proceed with surgery.

If the internal medicine department responds, “The procedure is risky in the current condition, so diabetes must be controlled before proceeding,” the surgery is postponed. Conversely, if approval is given stating, “Surgery is possible at this level of control,” the procedure may proceed.

In other words, the dental clinic does not independently assess systemic conditions such as diabetes or high blood pressure. Implants are performed only after safety has been confirmed through collaboration with the relevant medical department.

👉 In summary,

• If an adult baby tooth hurts, do not endure the pain. Have it checked with an X-ray early, and if necessary, proceed with extraction and an implant.

• If the front teeth feel loose after sleeping on your stomach, it may be due to a gum or bite problem rather than simple pressure, so an examination is essential.

• For patients with diabetes, implants can be performed safely only after obtaining approval through consultation with an internal medicine specialist.