Dental Implant Years After Extraction?

 

If you’ve been missing one or more teeth for a while, you may have started to see differences in your tooth alignment or feel changes in your bite. Maybe you have gaps in your teeth where there weren’t any before, or maybe it hurts to chew or bite with certain teeth. If you’re feeling like it’s time to look into options for replacing a tooth, even if it’s been years since the tooth was extracted (or fell out), a dental-implant-based restoration could still be a good option for you, though there are some important things to consider – primarily, the health of the jawbone.

 

When a tooth is extracted or falls out, the bone that once supported that tooth’s root begins to deteriorate. This is because there’s no tooth root present to stimulate the bone that supports the tooth, so the body assumes that bone is no longer needed and reabsorbs the tissue. This happens gradually, but after a few years, the bone may have deteriorated enough that it lacks the strength or density needed to support a dental implant. In some cases, dentists can strategically place dental implants that utilize the areas where bone strength is greatest, though in others, a bone graft might be needed. This procedure uses natural or synthetic material placed into the jawbone to replenish those areas and support continued bone vitality, helping it become strong and substantial enough to support a dental implant.

 

The best way to find out if you’re a good candidate for dental implants, even years after extraction, is to see a dentist for a consultation and evaluation. During this examination, the dentist will use X-rays and more-advanced imaging to assess the condition of the bone. They’ll also review your medical history and visually and manually examine the oral tissues, teeth, and bite. If the dentist determines that your jaw is healthy enough to support an implant and that your oral health is stable enough to ensure the success of the implant, the procedure is planned and proceeds. When additional procedures, like periodontal treatments and bone grafts, are needed, these are included in the comprehensive treatment plan. This means that the timeline for each patient varies, sometimes considerably, and is often dependent on the amount of time that’s elapsed since the tooth was lost.

 

While the overall timeline for placing a dental implant years after extraction might seem daunting, it’s important to understand that this timeline includes substantial time for grafted bone to develop and strengthen, and it includes time for the dental implant, once placed, to completely fuse with the now-healthy bone. This fusion process is called osseointegration and is integral to the long-term success of the dental implant. Once the implant post and bone fuse together, the implant post serves as a substitute tooth root, stimulating the newly developed bone tissue and helping maintain its strength and density going forward. This, in turn, helps the bone provide continued support for the implant over the long term.

 

Even though it might take a few more steps and a bit more time, a dental implant years after tooth loss can still provide years of satisfaction with a natural-looking, comfortable dental restoration that will support the oral health and the overall health for decades. The only way to know if it’s “too late” for you to get a dental implant is to chat with your dentist. Who knows? You might find out that a dental implant restoration is the perfect solution for replacing your missing tooth or teeth.

 

Related Article: Best Option for Missing Teeth Replacement