Introduction
Our molars ensure that we chew food properly so that it can be easily swallowed and digested. This makes them very important and losing even one of them can be troublesome.
These days Dental implants are the most popular method to conserve the quality of the jawbone and the most preferred way to replace missing teeth.
A missing molar can be replaced by a molar implant, but many people are not sure if it’s the right option for them. In this article, we have tried to make it easy for you to give an insight into the pros and cons of molar implants.
Understanding Molar Implants
All molar implants are dental implants, but not all implants are meant for molars due to the function performed by molars in the mouth.
If set properly and taken care of, Implants can last a decade or longer. But implants aren’t the only option available to replace missing teeth, so it becomes important to understand their significance.
Molars lend a great amount of support to the jaw and also assist in eating the foods that are hard and need to be ground and mashed.
Multiple missing molars can often force one to swap to softer foods.
Besides adversely affecting one’s ability to chew, a missing back molar can also dampen one’s self-esteem and hinder their confident smile.
It might also cause other teeth to move from their correct positions to fill in the empty gap left behind by the missing molars.
Patients with a missing rear molar would sooner or later want to opt for tooth replacement choices, with a dental implant being one of the most preferred alternatives to have an artificial tooth that is not only functional but also aesthetically pleasing.
An implant is usually a good choice for a single missing molar.
What are Dental Implants?
Consisting of three main pieces: screw, abutment and crown, Dental implants are the only available tooth replacement option that includes an artificial tooth that is made of titanium and looks like a tiny screw.
The abutment acts as an anchor for the crown and the screw as a tooth root.
The implant fuses with the bone upon being placed in the jawbone, in a process called osseointegration. This process ensures the success of the implant as the jawbone must totally fuse or bond with the artificial root to make the replacement tooth strong, tough and long-lasting.
The adequate bonding of the implant with the bone is significant for stimulating the bone in the jaw too, preventing it from deteriorating and shrinking further.
When you chew with the implant, the implant’s root stimulates the bone for proper regeneration.
The jawbone will otherwise slowly shrink, in the absence of the root, ultimately changing the shape of the face and how the jaws fit together.
Preservation of the jawbone is one of the biggest benefits of replacing missing teeth with dental implants. People with missing back molars should consult a dentist who provides dental implants.
The back molars help to chew food correctly, which may create excess pressure on the front teeth while eating, in their absence.
Dental implants are undoubtedly the best way to protect the integrity of the jawbone while also being the most natural way to replace missing teeth.
The molars located in the interior of the mouth are the second molars that come in around the age of twelve.
These molars are extracted because of inadequate space in the majority of people. Essential for better chewing, the second molars also help to maintain the adequate health of the jawbone and remaining teeth.
Though people with no second molars may also be able to chew comfortably, it creates problems like gum disease, tooth decay, trauma, etc in the long run.
Also Read: How to Clean Stained Invisalign Trays
Dental Implant Process Timeline
An implant procedure is a time-consuming process involving various steps:
- An examination is conducted by the dentist to discern the possibility of successful implants.
- Images of the area are taken to check the shape of teeth for the crown, the density of the jawbone, and risk if any to the surrounding teeth.
- Sometimes extractions need to be performed before an implant can be placed. In such cases, recovery time may be needed between the initial examination and the screw implantation.
- The screw is implanted by the oral surgeon around which the bone grows and integrates with it. This is a four to six months-long process. Patients may sometimes have issues with their bone density owing to age, illness, or certain genetic conditions. These patients are ideal candidates for bone grafts. For the patients requiring a bone graft, the process may take even more time.
- After the integration of the screw has taken place, a crown is attached to complete the procedure.
Dr. Gaurav Sharma at Kirkland Premier Dentistry explains that after the dental implant process is over and the crown has been placed, the surrounding bone forms a connection with the titanium surface of the implant, allowing the implant to function in the same way as a natural tooth root does, making an implant-supported crown a more stable and functional option for effective restoration of the missing back molars.
Dental Implants and Molars
Besides facing extra pressure from the type of bite force they face, the molars also are larger than the incisors and canines.
The recovery time taken by implanted molars to ensure strong osseointegration is usually longer.
The implants called subperiosteal, which are placed above the jawline in the gums, work very well for front teeth but cannot hold as strongly as the dental implant of a molar. Endosteal implants are required for this particular purpose.
Inserted as a part of a system, molar implants work very well. For example, a single molar implant has more likelihood of holding without complication than several put together, including side by side and top/bottom of the mouth.
In case there are two or more teeth gaps, then the dentists usually recommend partial dentures or bridges.
Moreover, the longer the period that has passed since an extraction, the more the chance of the deterioration of the gum and jawbone.
The mouth being a complex system, each weak part faces the risks of deterioration that can cause damage to the nearby systems.
For a gap that has been there for ten years, an implant procedure is possible but the results depend primarily on the bone density and the condition of the gums.
The possibility of the procedure also requires some investigations such as a CT scan etc.
A skilled and experienced oral surgeon or a restorative dentist like Dr. Gaurav Sharma will be well aware of the conditions that affect the success of the implantation and will make sure to review all options and success rates based on the individual circumstances.
Who is a Good Candidate For Dental Implants?
The factors that help to make one the right candidate for dental implants include:
- Good overall & oral health
- Absence of immune system disorders
- One should be free from diabetes
- Being a non-tobacco user
- Good jawbone health
- Absence of a gum disease
Bottom Line
Dental implants are undoubtedly the best option to restore lost back molars because they not only function and appear just like natural teeth but also provide a natural and functional tooth. Replacing missing back molars ensures the well-being and safety of your remaining teeth too.
To learn more about molar implants that can be well suitable for your mouth, call for an appointment at Kirkland Premier Dentistry where Dr. Gaurav Sharma has a wide experience in Molar Replacement Surgeries and can suggest to you the best way to ensure a healthy smile!
