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Is It Possible to Wait Too Long to Get Dental Implants?

November 21, 2024

Filed under: Uncategorized — torringtondental @ 1:57 am
Woman sitting on sofa, wearing contemplative expression

If you have one or more missing teeth, your dentist may have encouraged you to fill the gap in your smile in order to preserve your oral health. However, you might have held back due to various reasons, such as financial concerns or anxiety about treatment. Now, though, perhaps you feel ready to get dental implants. But you might wonder if you have waited too long. Has the window closed on your opportunity for tooth replacement? This blog post explains what you should know.

The Consequences of Missing Teeth

After a tooth is extracted or lost, several things can happen in the mouth. For example:

  • The jawbone shrinks. Once a tooth root is no longer present to stimulate the jawbone, it starts to deteriorate. Eventually, it can become so small and weak that it can no longer support a dental implant.
  • Other teeth can drift out of place. Your natural teeth might start to drift into the space left by the missing tooth, which could interfere with implant placement.
  • Your sinuses can shift. After an upper tooth is extracted, your sinus may fill the empty space that was left by it. An implant might penetrate the sinus.

Because dentists wish for their patients to avoid the above-listed complications, they advise that missing teeth should be replaced as soon as possible.

You Might Still Be a Candidate for Dental Implants

The above information might be a bit disheartening, but there is still hope! Even if it has been years since your teeth were extracted, you might still be a viable candidate for dental implants. However, you may need some extra preparatory work.

You may need a bone graft,  a surgery wherein extra bone material is placed on your jawbone in order to strengthen and enlarge it. After the grafted material integrates with your jaw, it should be able to support dental implants. If there is an issue with the placement of your sinuses, a procedure known as a sinus lift could help. It might be possible to relocate shifting teeth with braces, or it might be necessary to remove them altogether.

Really, the only way to find out if you could become a candidate for dental implants is to visit a qualified dentist for a consultation.

Are Dental Implants Worth It?

Extra preparatory procedures might seem like a big hassle, so it is natural to wonder if dental implants are worth the long treatment process. The vast majority of dentists and patients would say yes. Dental implants are the next best thing to natural teeth. A healthy and strong smile is worth almost any inconvenience!

Meet the Practice

At Torrington Dental Care, we are proud to offer comprehensive dental implant services. No matter how long it has been since you lost your teeth, we would be happy to evaluate your case and offer suggestions on how you can reach your oral health goals. To learn more about how we may be able to serve you, reach out to us at 860-259-4073.

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Torrington Dental Care is a 42 North Dental Care, PLLC practice and is owned and operated by dentists Dr. Samuel Shames, DDM. and Dr. Ronald Weissman, DDM. Gentle Dental is supported by 42 North Dental, LLC, a dental support organization that provides non-clinical administrative and business support services to the practice. 42 North Dental, LLC does not own or operate the dental practice or employ dentists to provide dental services. Find more information about 42NorthDental, LLC and the dental practices it supports at 42northdental.com.