Can you live with a missing tooth? It would be best to replace missing teeth as soon as possible to prevent tooth shifting. However, if you have a tooth extracted, it is advised to wait four to six months to have the tooth replaced.
While some may worry more about a highly visible missing tooth (like a front tooth), the serious consequences of a missing tooth — including an increased risk of decay, a negative impact on eating and speaking, and possible bone loss — will impact an individual no matter where the missing tooth is.
Untreated tooth loss sets the stage for other oral health problems to follow. It increases your risk of gum disease and bacterial infections. It also changes the alignment of your remaining teeth. When you don't fill a gap in your smile, the neighboring teeth will shift toward each other.
With modern treatment options, it is never too late to address a missing tooth. Of course, because your smile can be affected by how long a missing tooth goes untreated, sooner is always better than later.
In some cases, if enough healthy jawbone is present, it may be possible to place a dental implant the same day a tooth is taken out. However, in most cases, our Ladys Island dentist will recommend waiting 3 to 6 months after a tooth extraction to allow the area to fully heal.
If too much time has passed since the tooth was extracted and the gum tissue has shrunken, it may not be possible to place dental implants immediately. However, with advances in dental technology, it is now possible for implant dentists to place implants even after many years have passed since the tooth was lost.
Since as much as half of jawbone loss can occur within the first three months after tooth removal, the implant must be placed before three months have passed.
In addition to the gap in your grin, your missing tooth may also lead to tooth misalignment and a more crooked smile. Misaligned teeth make it harder for you to maintain good oral hygiene, which increases your risk of developing cavities and, even worse, gum disease, which is the leading cause of tooth loss in adults.
Time elapsed is not by itself a reason to eschew dental implants. If you have had teeth extracted 2, 5, 10 or any number of years ago, and have not replaced them since, you may still be a good candidate for dental implants. It primarily comes down to a question of bone density.
While you could probably learn to function without your tooth, the reality is that one missing tooth will eventually result in more tooth loss. You are facing a downward spiral that takes a great toll on your oral health, and here's why.
Any number of missing teeth can cause serious oral and overall health issues. Ultimately, tooth loss begets more tooth loss. So, if you have just one missing tooth, it's very likely that more will follow if it isn't replaced.
Tooth decay, gum disease, and injury are common causes of missing teeth. Some people are born without certain teeth, and this condition is called congenitally missing teeth. Genetic factors cause congenitally missing teeth and this condition is often seen in generations of a family.
Researchers estimate that as many as 20 percent of adults are born with at least one missing tooth, making hypodontia one of the most common developmental oral health conditions. Most individuals are missing only one or two permanent teeth, with very few missing more than six.
Can you live with a missing tooth? It would be best to replace missing teeth as soon as possible to prevent tooth shifting. However, if you have a tooth extracted, it is advised to wait four to six months to have the tooth replaced.
Putting off or opting against dental implants only makes things worse. Going as little as 12 months with a missing tooth (including extractions) causes the bone to atrophy: that is, bone density and height decrease and deteriorate almost immediately.
Dental Implants Can Last a Lifetime
The average lifespan of a dental implant is anywhere from 10 -30 years. This means that most likely, depending on your age when you get an implant, it will last for the rest of your life. No other tooth replacement option has the ability to last that long.
So as not to leave your missing tooth socket exposed for months, your dentist may recommend a temporary dental bridge to cover the tooth gap as you wait for your permanent dental implants. The dental bridge, although temporary, will help you improve your smile as you wait for the implant fitting process to finish.
Dental Implants keep adjacent teeth stable
The gap from a missing tooth can cause adjacent teeth to crookedly shift towards the gap. This pulls your teeth out of position and can affect your bite, your ability to chew and your appearance. It can cause interference that makes tooth replacement difficult later.
The surgery itself should not involve any pain since the mouth will be numbed. As the numbness wears off, though, patients will often feel some level of pain. Many dental professionals provide pain medication to help manage discomfort at the implant site.
Even a year after losing a tooth can have your surrounding teeth shifting as the bone resorbs at the site. If it has been years, these teeth may be too out of place or have sunk into the empty tooth socket, leaving no room for a dental implant.
Implants can last for several years and even a lifetime if properly taken care of. They also easily adjust with adjacent teeth as compared to dental bridges, which tend to weaken the teeth next to them and over time cause further tooth loss.
While the crown may be replaced over a long time, the implant (the root) is permanent. This is a major advantage since you will only need to go through the surgery once, lowering risks and costs for future procedures.