No space for an implant because a tooth has fallen over or a molar has tilted? Read this first.

Hello.

I am the director of Seoul Bardi Dental Clinic.

If the space left after extracting a tooth is left unattended, the surrounding teeth often slowly collapse into the empty space.

Then, when it is time to place an implant, those fallen-over teeth become a major obstacle because they encroach on the space.

Usually, in situations like this, the teeth are shaved down a lot to make room for the implant,

but as someone who is sincerely committed to preserving natural teeth, I have always found that approach unfortunate.

Today, instead of forcibly shaving teeth and shortening their lifespan,

I’ll share a case of molar uprighting that preserved the nerve inside the tooth and secured space for the implant by straightening the tooth properly. ^^

250912 (before) 260127 (after)

Why can’t a fallen tooth just be left alone? No space for an implant because a tooth has fallen over or a molar has tilted? Read this first.

If the space left by a missing tooth is left unattended for a long time,

our mouth undergoes bigger changes than you might expect.

1. Domino effect

The neighboring tooth falls toward the empty space,

and the entire alignment collapses.

2. Cavities and gum disease

As the tooth tilts, food gets trapped in the awkward gaps it creates

and decay begins.

3. Bite collapse

Because the upper and lower teeth no longer fit together properly, the

force for chewing becomes insufficient.

In the end, the space left by one missing tooth can become a dangerous starting point that throws the balance of the entire mouth off.

Bridge vs. partial orthodontic treatment: What is the difference? No space for an implant because a tooth has fallen over or a molar has tilted? Read this first.

When there isn’t enough space, a commonly chosen method is a "bridge" that grinds down the teeth on both sides.

Its clear advantage is that the treatment period is shorter... But it also has a critical drawback: it requires excessive reduction of healthy neighboring teeth,

and in cases of severe tipping,

it may even require preventive root canal treatment.

As someone deeply committed to preserving natural teeth, in cases like this

I recommend a partial orthodontic treatment called "uprighting."

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It is a technique that creates space by gently lifting a tooth that has fallen over

back into its original position and straightening it.

Even if it takes a little more time,

it is the best way to preserve your teeth as healthily as possible while minimizing tooth reduction. ^^

Real treatment case: straightening a tilted molar No space for an implant because a tooth has fallen over or a molar has tilted? Read this first.

This is a case of a patient who had lost the lower molar (#46) long ago,

and due to a busy daily life, had left it untreated for years.

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If you look at the photo, the back molars (#47, 48)

are severely leaning forward, right?

The patient wanted an implant in the missing tooth site (#46),

but

there was far too little space for the prosthetic.

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If we had proceeded as is, we would have had to shave away a great deal of the side of the healthy tooth until the nerve was exposed,

but I decided on partial orthodontic treatment to preserve the patient’s precious nerve and natural tooth.

To save the patient’s valuable time,

the treatment was planned in the most efficient sequence.

First, we began by placing the implant in the empty space where the tooth had been lost.

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It takes a little time for the implant to become firmly integrated with our jawbone.

While waiting for that, we simultaneously carried out orthodontic treatment to straighten the neighboring tilted tooth,

which allowed us to significantly shorten the overall treatment period. ^^

While the implant was settling in well,

we connected a small elastic spring device between the teeth that had leaned over.

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Using the elasticity of that spring to push gently,

we slowly and properly straightened the fallen tooth back to its original healthy angle.

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After carefully monitoring it for about three months,

we finally had a tooth that stood straight and found its place again!

A wide enough space was perfectly created above the implant we had placed in advance,

so that the new tooth (prosthetic) could be mounted beautifully.^^

The result of straightening without shaving the tooth: finished with a crown, no root canal treatment No space for an implant because a tooth has fallen over or a molar has tilted? Read this first.

Of course, straightening the tooth does not mean the entire process is immediately finished.

If a tooth has been tilted for a long time, the heights of the chewing surfaces have already changed unevenly.

So after uprighting, a precise adjustment process is essential so that the upper and lower teeth fit together like interlocking gears.

As part of that process, this patient’s #47 tooth was finished with a zirconia crown.

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Here is a very important difference.

Because we had straightened the tooth in advance,

there was no need at all to excessively shave the sides of the tooth just to create space.

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Thanks to that, we were able to place a strong prosthesis without touching the tooth’s "nerve," which is its lifeline,

and without painful root canal treatment.

At the same time, the final prosthetic for implant #46 was also placed on the space secured through orthodontic treatment.

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Because the neighboring tooth that had been blocking the path at an angle was brought back into position,

the implant was also able to settle into an ideal shape without any unreasonable design.

Now the upper and lower molars fit together without gaps,

so the patient can eat comfortably again. ^^

250912 (before) 260127 (after)

I believe the right answer in dental treatment is not "the fastest treatment no matter what," but "honest treatment that considers the future."

It may seem like a detour,

so you might feel frustrated,

but preserving the nerve in your natural tooth and creating the best environment through uprighting

is ultimately the wisest way to extend the life of the tooth by 10 or 20 years.

Were you hesitating about an implant because there wasn’t enough space or because the tooth had tilted too much?

Before deciding it’s "already too late," please get an accurate diagnosis first.

We will think it through together from the patient’s perspective

so we can help protect even one more of your precious natural teeth in a healthier way.

Thank you.^^

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No space for an implant because a tooth has fallen over or a molar has tilted? Read this first.

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02-481-4278

| This post was written directly by Seoul Bardi Dental Clinic for the purpose of providing medical information in compliance with Article 56, Paragraph 1 of the Medical Advertising Act. The information provided is for reference only, and we recommend that you visit a medical institution and receive guidance from medical professionals for symptom assessment and accurate management methods. All procedures/surgeries performed at the dental clinic may involve possible side effects depending on the individual (inflammation, bleeding, swelling, etc.). Please make decisions after sufficient consultation with the medical staff in advance. The treatment cases in this post were photographed with the consent of the patients who actually completed treatment at our clinic, and the before-and-after photos were taken under the same conditions. |