110 Dental Implant Years After Extraction

Dental Implant Years After Extraction?

It’s best to have a tooth or teeth replaced as soon as an extraction is performed. With that said, there are a variety of reasons why you may not have been able to get a new tooth placed. Maybe you couldn’t afford it, or maybe you simply thought you didn’t need a replacement. Years later, a replacement is a tempting idea…but is it still possible?

Can I Get Dental Implants Placed Years After Extraction?
The short answer is yes, it is still possible! It may not be as easy, though.
Over time, your jawbone may start to deteriorate if you have a missing tooth or teeth and no replacement. If this is the case and it’s gotten to the point where it can no longer support an implant, you will need a bone graft to increase the density of your jawbone. You need to have a strong jawbone for the metal rod of the dental implant or implants to be placed.
During the jawbone reconstruction, either a cadaver bone, animal bone, or bone from another part of the body is used. After the bone has healed from the procedure, an implant or multiple implants can be placed.
It’s important to understand that this will be a more expensive procedure, and it will take time to heal. You not only have to pay for the jawbone procedure but also the implants themselves.
With that said, you still may be a candidate for dental implants. Set an appointment with your dentist so they can take a look.

What Are the Risks of Not Replacing Missing Teeth?
If you have recently had a tooth extracted and you are on the fence about whether you want to have it replaced or not, consider some of the risks that come with not having a tooth replaced:
* Increased health risk. If you don’t get a tooth or teeth replaced after an extraction, they can migrate over time. This leads to impacting, crowding, and crookedness. This makes it harder to brush and floss, which means a higher chance of gum disease and tooth decay.
* Teeth loss. Because of the gum disease and tooth decay that can occur with teeth migration, you actually significantly increase the chances of having more teeth fall out.
* Bone loss. As was just discussed, a missing tooth or teeth can degrade the integrity of your jawbone over time. To avoid this, get an implant as soon as you can.

Implant Options
Dental implants aren’t just one thing. There are actually a few different types of implants. Some of these implants include:
* Implant bridges
* Single dental implants
* Implant-supported dentures

Speak with Your Dentist
If it’s been years since you’ve had your tooth or teeth extracted, or if you just had them extracted, set an appointment with your dentist about a replacement. They will consider your surrounding teeth, gums, and jawbone to see if you are a candidate for a dental implant. If your jawbone is weak, they will determine if a bone graft is right for you.