Are Dental Implants Necessary After Extraction?

 

This is because your ability to chew and bite foods, as well as to speak properly really depends on the presence of all your teeth. Your teeth work together in unison to be able to perform these actions correctly. If there’s a missing tooth then your ability to safely and effectively eat foods can be severely hindered. And if you’re allowed to chew foods while missing a tooth for an extended period of time, then the rest of your natural teeth could also potentially become damaged or misaligned, leading to even more expensive repairs and treatments down the line.

Can I Get a Dental Implant Years After Extraction?

If you’ve had a dental extraction performed years before, you can still get a dental implant. Most if not all dentists will say that it’s never too late to have a dental implant placed, especially if you’ve been having difficulty with chewing foods for years after having a tooth removed. However, your dentist may first elect to give you a proper dental cleaning and do x-rays of your teeth and jaw especially if you haven’t been to your dentist in Camberwell for many years or have neglected to take proper care of your teeth in order to reveal any underlying issues with your oral health.

 

How Long Can You Go Without an Implant?

There is no specific time frame for how long you can go without a dental implant. However, the sooner you get a dental implant, the better. This is because having a missing tooth for an extended period of time can lead to unnecessary stress and damage on teeth you already have, potentially leading to misalignment and injury to your regular teeth. This will obviously result in more expensive treatments for the teeth that are already present in your mouth before you’re able to have a new tooth implanted into the missing area.

Going long without an implant can also cause damage so severe to your other teeth that it may be more likely for one or two of your other teeth to also decay. This may ultimately require multiple extractions and dental implants to correct the issue.

Now vs. Later: How to Choose?

Still not sure whether now is a good time for your implant surgery? The following points can help you decide.

If you wait to get implants:

• You’ll have a chance to think over your decision. Implants are not the only tooth replacement option. Waiting to get them allows you to consider all your options and make sure you’re really making the right choice.
• You’ll have a chance to save money. Implants are expensive, and many patients do not have enough saved up to cover their bill. If you wait to get implants, you can save up more aggressively, allowing you to depend less on financing to get the procedure done.
• The pain will be over sooner. Your mouth will be tender after getting one or more teeth removed. If you get implants put in right away, any relief you get will be short-lived. Spacing out the extraction and the surgery gives you some time in between procedures to rest and enjoy life pain-free.

If you get implants right away:

• You’ll avoid bone loss. The sooner you replace your missing tooth, the less likely it is that you’ll need bone grafts to strengthen your jawbone.
• You’ll keep your alignment intact. Replacing missing teeth right away ensures that your other teeth don’t start drifting out of alignment.
• You’ll experience less pain overall. Getting your implants placed right after your extractions allows you to get all the pain and recovery time out of the way at once, leaving you with new high-quality artificial teeth that you’ll get years of use out of.

The Bottom Line: It’s Never Too Late

Implants will always be a great option to replace missing teeth, no matter when you choose to get them. While we would typically recommend getting them placed as soon as possible, you can wait years before undergoing implant surgery if you want to. Weigh your options and make the choice that works best for you; there’s no wrong answer.

If you’re ready to get dental implants or want some professional advice to help you make your decision, Tower Dental are here to help for all your oral health issues. Contact us on (03) 9817 7144 to book an appointment and discuss any dental concerns that are on your mind.