Did you recently go through a tooth extraction? If so, you may want to replace the missing tooth as soon as possible. A missing tooth can create an obvious gap in your grin and make it hard to chew. These days, you have many options when it comes to teeth replacements. However, if you want a realistic and long-lasting solution, you should consider getting dental implants from a reputable dental practice in Maryville, TN. These implants can mimic the look and functionality of your natural teeth. Once they heal, no one will notice you have them. However, can you get an implant right after tooth extraction?
What to Expect After You Lose a Tooth
Tooth loss can create a space and lead to changes that you may not notice right away. As your jawbone loses stimulation from the root of the lost tooth, it can begin to deteriorate. Bone loss in the jaw can reduce the support available for the remaining teeth, increasing the risk of additional tooth loss.
In addition, the teeth that surround the gap will start to drift, creating aesthetic issues and making it hard to chew food properly. You can have a misaligned bite that can result in chronic teeth grinding or temporomandibular joint (TMJ) disorder. But you can prevent these issues when you get dental implants.
When to Get Dental Implants
How much time to wait after tooth extraction to get dental implants depends on many factors. Such variables affect the kind of dental implant procedure you can undergo:
- Immediate implant placement. Your dentist can place a dental implant after pulling out your tooth as long as you have healthy gums and adequate jawbone density. Once placed, the implant will fuse with the jawbone to give a dependable foundation for a dental crown.
- Early placement. If a gum infection causes your tooth loss, you can have an implant only once the gum tissue has healed. Within the first 3 months following a tooth extraction, you can start losing your jawbone. Because of this, an implant should be placed before this period has passed.
- Delayed placement. A seriously decayed tooth that has been left untreated for a while may have caused jawbone loss. In this case, a bone graft may be necessary after a tooth extraction. This procedure involves grafting bone material on the specific jaw area to strengthen the bone after around 6 months. A dental implant can then be placed.
