When you face a situation where tooth extraction is unavoidable, it is essential to prepare for your next step by learning about the available options for replacing the extracted tooth.
Several restorative options are available to replace missing teeth, including dental bridges, removable dentures, and dental implants.
Dental implants are regarded as the gold standard for replacing missing teeth because they provide several advantages that other options cannot offer.
Dental implants are small titanium screws inserted into the jawbone. They replace the tooth root and serve as an anchor for the restoration. They offer many advantages, including.
- A natural appearance, as the restoration appears to emerge from the socket.
- Preservation of tooth structure, since no preparation for the neighbouring teeth is required.
- Durability.
- Maintenance of the jawbone and avoiding its resorption.
Looking for dental implant experts in London? Contact us today and experience expert dental care.
But first, let us understand why a missing tooth should be restored
After tooth extraction, oral health can be affected on multiple levels, including functional, aesthetic, and the health of neighbouring teeth.
1. Functionally, missing teeth disrupt the natural biting relationship between teeth, which can lead to improper mastication and subsequently cause gastrointestinal problems, such as impaired digestion and nutrient absorption. Additionally, missing teeth may affect speech by impairing the pronunciation of certain sounds.
2. Aesthetically, missing teeth in the smile zone can negatively impact your confidence and self-esteem when smiling and communicating with others. Some people with missing anterior teeth may limit their social activities because they avoid smiling.
3. Neighbouring Teeth Health: Teeth naturally seek contact with adjacent teeth. When a tooth is missing, the neighbouring teeth on both sides begin to tilt into the space, and the opposing tooth may over-erupt. This can compromise periodontal health and increase the risk of developing periodontal pockets.
Swaying between various solutions to restore your missing teeth? Book a consultation with our experts to learn more about the most suitable solution for you.
Understanding the dental implant procedure
The dental implant procedure consists of two main steps: implant placement and restoration.
Dental implant placement involves a minor surgical procedure in which the gum is lifted to expose the underlying bone. Special drills are then used to create a space in the jawbone that matches the selected implant’s size and shape. After the implant is inserted, a healing phase begins. During this period, new bone forms around the surface of the dental implant, anchoring it to the surrounding jawbone and creating a single unit through a process called osseointegration. This process typically takes three to four months to complete.
Following dental implant insertion, it is more common to close the raised gums and allow the implant to heal completely before exposing it to attach the restoration. However, in some cases, a temporary restoration is attached to the implant on the same day to aesthetically restore the lost tooth with minor function until complete healing occurs and the final restoration can be fabricated.
How soon can dental implants be used to restore an extracted tooth?
Following tooth extraction, the jawbone begins to undergo bone resorption because it is no longer stimulated. At the same time, dental implants require sufficient bone quality and quantity at the implant site to ensure their success. This is why it is always better to restore a missing tooth as soon as possible.
This raises the question of how soon dental implants can be placed. There are two concepts of dental implant placement: immediate or delayed implant placement.
Here is a quick comparison between immediate and delayed implant placement:
- Time of implant placement
During immediate implant placement, the dental implant is inserted directly into the empty socket immediately after tooth extraction. In contrast, delayed implant placement involves allowing the socket to heal for several months before planning the dental implant.
If a delayed implant is chosen, your surgeon will recommend a socket preservation procedure at the time of extraction. Socket preservation involves atraumatic tooth extraction, along with the use of bone grafts and sometimes a membrane to support the bone during healing and minimise the natural bone resorption that occurs following tooth extraction.
- Benefits
For immediate implant placement, the number of visits and surgical procedures is reduced since the dental implant is placed in the empty socket of the extracted tooth. Additionally, immediate implant placement lowers the risk of bone resorption, provides immediate results, promotes faster healing, and results in less scarring.
For delayed implant placement, more bone is available to support the dental implant, which increases implant stability and the success rate, reduces complications, and yields more predictable results because the implant is planned after healing based on the existing conditions.
- Risks
Immediate implants may carry a slightly higher risk of marginal bone resorption, an increased likelihood of infection, longer surgical times, and are not suitable for every patient.
On the other hand, delayed implant loading is more invasive because it requires two surgeries, involves a longer treatment timeline due to the several months needed for complete healing, and carries a higher risk of bone resorption during the healing process.
Dental implant experts at Dulwich Dental Office have completed over 5,000 successful dental implant treatments. Join them today.
Choosing between immediate and delayed implant placement
Both immediate and delayed implants offer a high success rate (over 95%); however, immediate implants may carry a slightly higher risk of failure if not properly planned.
Immediate implant patients are selected after careful examination and investigations to increase their chance of success. An ideal candidate for immediate implant must have:
- Infection-free implant site where the extracted tooth showed no chronic abscess or cyst related to its roots.
- Healthy gums because inflamed gums are more prone to recession, which may expose the metallic collar of the dental implant, leading to aesthetic failure.
- Sufficient bone all around the empty socket with no bone defects.
- Medically free from any condition that may delay healing, such as uncontrolled diabetes.
Choosing between immediate and delayed implants depends on several factors, including the existence of favorable candidacy criteria and the patient’s desire. If the tooth planned to be extracted is in the smile zone, the patient may favour an immediate implant to avoid bad aesthetics.
Take the right decision for your smile by choosing Dulwich Dental Office
You deserve exceptional dental care to achieve your dream smile, and by choosing Dulwich Dental Office, you will receive exactly that.
Dulwich Dental Office is a premier dental centre in London, providing an ideal environment for successful dental implant treatments. Our expert surgeons have extensive experience in planning and professionally executing dental implant procedures, ensuring a high success rate. Book your consultation with our specialists today to plan your future tooth extraction easily and smoothly.
