Can You Wait Too Long to Get Dental Implants?

If you’ve been missing teeth for many years now, you may be wondering if you’ve missed your chance to get dental implants. It is never a good idea to put off a surgery of any kind, and dental implants are included. Missing teeth has a negative impact on oral health and can lower your self-esteem. However, dental implants may still be in your future. Here’s what you should know.

Can You Be Disqualified from Dental Implants for Waiting Too Long?

When you chew, your teeth stimulate your jawbone to keep it strong. Stimulation also allows your jaw to absorb minerals. When stimulation isn’t present, minerals are sent to other areas of the body, so the health of your jaw decreases. The longer you have been missing teeth, the more bone resorption occurs.

Fortunately, even if you have been missing teeth for a while, this doesn’t automatically disqualify you from dental implants. Your dentist will examine your jawbone to determine if it is sufficient enough to support implants. If it is not, you may need a bone graft before you can get implants. This procedure helps to strengthen your jawbone so that it will be healthy enough to support your replacement teeth.

How Does Tooth Loss Affect Your Smile?

Tooth loss can lead to a variety of different oral health complications and issues if the tooth isn’t replaced as soon as possible. Aside from bone loss, here are some of the other consequences that could get in the way of getting dental implants:

• Shifting Teeth: Over time, the teeth near the space of a missing tooth may start to shift to fill in the new gap. This can take away from the appearance of your smile and may even cause you to need orthodontic treatment before you can get dental implants.
• Pneumatization: This is when your sinuses move. Your sinuses are located in your upper jaw, so when a tooth is removed without replacing it, they can shift and make dental implant surgery more complicated.
• Supra Eruption: This occurs when the tooth below or above a missing tooth starts moving into the free space. This can look strange and complicate the dental implant procedure.

How Long After an Extraction Should You Get a Dental Implant?

The amount of time you should wait to get a dental implant varies on a few different factors. This includes the health of the extraction site and the position of surrounding teeth. Generally, you should wait about 10 weeks so the area can heal, then get a dental implant to prevent loss in bone density. Schedule a consultation with your dentist so you can create a plan that is ideal to meet your needs.

If you’ve been missing teeth for a while, you may still be able to get dental implants. By working with your dentist, you can create a plan that’s right for you. You will have your smile back in no time!

About the Practice

 At Vollo Dental Group, Drs. Joseph and Katherine Vollo are serving patients in the Rochester community. They both earned their dental doctorates from the University of Buffalo and their post-doctorate residencies at the Western New York Veterans Hospital. They can complete the entire dental implant treatment process under the same roof! To learn more about dental implants or to schedule an appointment, visit their website or call (585) 225-9114.