Reasons You Need an Implant After Tooth Extraction (If You Don’t Get an Implant)

Implant after extraction

If you don’t get an implant

Why an implant is needed after losing a natural tooth

A natural tooth is one of the many organs that make up our body,

but damaging or losing one is more common than you might think.

Especially if it is a molar that is not easily visible,

many people tend to think, “It’s okay even if it’s a little uncomfortable.”

Before implants became widespread,

there were even dentists who said,

“There’s no need to go as far as getting an implant.”

But by today’s standards,

it has become clear that choosing not to get an implant after losing a natural tooth

can create bigger problems.

The reason is that the gums and teeth are structures that become difficult to restore

even if only a little time passes,

and from here on, I’ll explain why it is not okay if you don’t get an implant,

and why the “right timing” matters.

If you don’t get an implant: bone resorption in the gums

Teeth and the jawbone

are structures that support each other and stay in balance.

So when a tooth is lost,

the jawbone also loses the force to support it and gradually shrinks.

In particular, the outer alveolar bone (buccal bone)

is lost quickly,

so if it is left without an implant,

the bone gradually becomes thinner and caves in.

If you try to get an implant late in this state,

placement becomes impossible,

and bone grafting ultimately becomes essential.

In other words, you have to go through treatment that is much more complicated

and more expensive than it would have been originally.

If you don’t get an implant: tooth rearrangement

Teeth act as pillars for one another

and help maintain balance.

So if even one tooth is lost,

the surrounding teeth will tilt or move into the empty space.

As a result,

teeth become slanted in their arrangement

imbalanced bite force

gaps appear, and looseness increases

and other side effects occur.

Later, even if you try to get an implant,

because nearby teeth have tilted and shifted,

orthodontic treatment often has to be done first.

If you don’t get an implant: various oral diseases

Once alveolar bone loss and tooth movement begin,

balance inside the mouth collapses,

and the rate of inflammation rises sharply.

Food can get stuck more easily in the empty space

bacterial growth increases

the risk of cavities and periodontitis rises

oral hygiene becomes more difficult to manage

and other side effects occur.

As a result, overall oral health deteriorates rapidly.

If you don’t get an implant: facial changes

Teeth and the jawbone

are important foundations that form the lower structure of the face.

Therefore, when the jawbone shrinks or the bite becomes misaligned,

visible facial changes can appear.

Hollowing around the mouth

jawline asymmetry

sunken cheeks

in severe cases, the maxillary sinus may collapse, requiring sinus lift surgery

and other side effects can occur.

In other words, the longer an implant is left untreated,

the higher the treatment difficulty, cost, and recovery time become.

Why an implant is needed, summarized

After losing a natural tooth,

a diagnosis that says you need an implant

is not simply “to recommend surgery.”

That is because the structural damage that occurs if you don’t get an implant

becomes difficult to restore as time passes.

In particular, starting about 3 months after extraction,

alveolar bone resorption begins in earnest,

so if possible, implant placement within 3 months is best.

Gangnam Saero Dental Clinic

first tries to save the natural tooth if it can be saved,

and if an implant is necessary,

it reduces the burden through a minimally invasive placement method

and places the highest priority on helping restore the patient’s quality of life.

We do not place more implants than necessary,

and when bone grafting is needed,

we reduce the burden with more precise techniques,

while providing treatment that thoroughly lowers the likelihood of implant failure.

A new smile,

a new beginning.

Please join Gangnam Saero Dental Clinic.

• This post is a medical information post presented by a medical institution due to a contractual relationship with a third party.