Why You Shouldn’t Wait Too Long to Replace Missing Teeth with Dental Implants

Has your confidence and overall quality of life been negatively impacted by tooth loss? Whether you are missing one tooth or all of your teeth, if you want to restore your ability to chew and speak or rebuild your confidence, consider dental implants! However, if you’ve been missing teeth for several years, you might be wondering if the window has closed. Keep reading to find out why you shouldn’t wait too long to replace missing teeth with dental implants and what you can do if you already have.

How Long After Extraction Should I Get Dental Implants?

The amount of time you should wait before getting implants can vary. The most important factors for how quickly you should get implants are the health of your extraction site and the position of your surrounding teeth.

Depending on how much bone is present around your extraction site to secure the dental implant, you can get immediate, early, or delayed placement. That being said, generally most dentists and oral surgeons prefer to wait a minimum of 10 weeks. This ensures your mouth has had plenty of time to heal but not enough time to lose bone density.

The Consequences of Waiting Too Long for Dental Implants

The moment you lose a permanent tooth, your jawbone begins to break down. It will continue to deteriorate over time. Without adequate bone mass, you risk implant failure. Therefore, if you wait too long to restore your smile, the following could happen:

• Bone deterioration
• Pneumatization (sinuses moving)
• Supra-erupted (overerupted) teeth
• Shifting teeth

These conditions make dental implant surgery and long-term success more difficult. Your jaw may be too weak or the implant placement may be more complicated. 

Replacing your missing teeth as soon as possible helps to protect your jawbone health. If you wait too long, you increase your risk of TMJ pain and headaches, collapsing facial structure and wrinkling skin, nutrition and speech issues, and lessened self-esteem.

What Can I Do If I’ve Waited Too Long for Dental Implants?

The good news is that even if you’ve left your missing tooth without immediate treatment, it may still be possible for you to get a dental implant! Your jawbone can be built back into a stable foundation through bone grafting. Once properly integrated with your jaw, you can get dental implants and restore your complete smile.

If possible, don’t put off getting dental implant surgery. Waiting for too long makes the placement of your implant much more difficult and increases your chances of implant failure. 

Schedule a consultation with your dentist to see if you are a candidate for implants or if you may need a bone graft. You might experience a lengthier process, but then your pearly whites will be as functional as they are beautiful for years to come. Putting off surgery isn’t worth experiencing the emotional tolls or additional expenses that come with long-term missing teeth!

About the Practice

At Murphy Family & Implant Dentistry, Dr. Nguyen and Dr. Najari combine their extensive expertise and unique clinical strengths to provide patients with the best dental care imaginable. The practice offers dental implant results that will look, feel, and function just as your natural teeth would! Every step of the process is done in-office for your convenience and comfort. Whether you are missing one or more teeth, Drs. Nguyen and Najari can restore your smile to completeness. If you’re interested in learning if dental implants could be the solution to your missing teeth, contact Murphy Family & Implant Dentistry at their website or by phone (972) 516-2928.