Effects of a single tooth loss (do I get implant?)

leftism

Hi guys,

I recently had a tooth extracted.

Beforehand I'd borrowed some money to book a tooth extraction because I was worried about how my missing tooth would look (it's the 4th one in on the lower left side).

The reason I booked early was to get a Groupon deal. £995 instead of about £2.5k.

But now I've had the tooth out, I've realised it can't be seen when I speak and smile.

If I like I am allowed to cancel the implant (and save the £995) but before I do, it'd be great to know if there are any long term effects of having a missing tooth (other than aesthetic) that an implant would prevent.

Cheers for reading

welshdent

there are a few potential consequences but we couldnt say without seeing your case because some of the consequences can be prevented or minimised by other features in your mouth and the way your teeth bite together. Few of them are particularly significant though and I would usually leave the decision to my patient to replace or not if I feel it is a suitable space to restore. drift and or tilting of adjacent teeth, over eruption of opposing are a couple of possibilities but as I said, I couldnt really say without seeing you.

LE3

I've had 2 missing teeth for years with no problems at all - mine were adult teeth that never grew properly & fused with my baby teeth so had to be removed when I was around 13/14.

leftism

Thanks for the replies guys. I get the impression no one would usually have an implant in a place that can't be seen?

welshdent

Oh i dunno about that I would probably have one but then I am a right fussy !!!!!!

building_with_lego

I'm wondering about this very thing after my dentist mentioned implants at my last check-up.

I lost both of my lower 6s about 8 years ago, in my mid- twenties. The dentist I have now recommends implants to avoid bone loss where the teeth were, and impaction of the opposite teeth in my top jaw. I don't really know what impaction means and how it could be caused by my having teeth removed.
I can't work out whether she really thinks I need implants (she keeps mentioning my age and how young I was when they were removed) or whether she wants hands on £4,000.

SparkyG

16 years ago I has a lower right 6 molar extracted after 3 years of treatment and a failed root canal (long story!). I was very traumatised, and although it didn't show when I smiled I hated the gap I could see when I brushed my teeth, and felt it with my tongue constantly.

7 years later I has a dentist who I could trust, and felt confident enough to broach the subject of the gap in my lower jaw. He was brilliant, and didn't push any treatment, but explained the option of either a bridge or a single tooth implant. He was very honest with me, and said he had only done 17 implants, (it was 2003) but I trusted him and went ahead with an implant which then cost me £1500.

My opposing upper molar had over erupted into the gap during that 7 years, and the bone in the lower jaw had shrunk, but he was able to fit a fully functioning implant without a bone graft.

9 years later I love my implant! It looks absolutely natural, and I feel 'whole' again. I can honestly say it is the best money I have ever spent. I am still with the same dentist and he checks it carefully every 6 months. No, it was not dentally necessary, but mentally to me it made such a difference.

HTH:)

SparkyG

leftism

SparkyG, that's a huge help. Nice to hear the other side of the story. People keep telling me not to do it because it's not visible but it does feel very strange and I can't imagine a time when I won't feel conscious of it. Hmm, this needs some thought.

welshdent

left I always tell my patients that the only person that can make such a decision is them. We are all different with different goals expectations and views. Nothing highlights that more so than working as a dentist. I have patients that think nothing of having no teeth at all and not wearing a denture and others that miss one tooth at the back which has traumatised them from the day they lost it. Would I replace a molar? If it was something that was possible to do and not damage other teeth/tissues then yes I probably would but I can show you other people with the same experience and training as me who would say no. Your mouth is very personal. YOU use it. Its yours. Ignore what anyone else says. Ask your dentist what is POSSIBLE and with all the information in front of you, decide if you can live with a gap or not.