Benefits Of A Dental Implant After A Tooth Extraction

If you have a tooth in the back of your mouth that is rotten, the dentist may advise you just to pull the tooth. Some teeth are beyond filling or placing a crown over. The dentist will then likely recommend a bridge or dental implants. Since it will not be noticeable that you are missing a tooth, you may be wondering if you really need a dental implant. Here are a few of the benefits of filling in the hole with a dental implant after a tooth extraction.

Prevents Teeth From Shifting

Your teeth hold a place in your mouth. This helps to prevent your other teeth from shifting. When you have a hole or are missing a tooth, your other teeth may slightly shift over time because they now have the space to move. If you had perfectly aligned teeth, you may develop gaps between your teeth which may extend to your more visible teeth. A dental implant helps hold the space in your mouth so other teeth can't shift.

Decreased Risk of Periodontal Disease

Your teeth help protect a significant portion of your gums. Food, germs and other bacteria may be kept away from your gums thanks to your teeth. When a tooth is pulled, that portion of your gums is now exposed to all of these items, which can make that part of your mouth more prone to periodontal disease, more commonly known as gum disease. And once it affects one part of your gums, it spreads to the others quickly. An implant protects that area of the gums, helping to reduce your risk of periodontal disease.

Makes it Easier to Chew and Eat

The last advantage to having a dental implant placed after a tooth extraction is that it makes it easier to chew or eat. You can lose up to 10 percent of your chewing power just by losing one tooth. Replacing that tooth makes it easier to chew tough food and enjoy the foods you love.

If you need to have a tooth pulled in the back of your mouth, replacing that tooth may not be high on your priority list. After all, no one would even notice the tooth was gone. However, using a dental implant to fill in the hole helps to prevent your other teeth from shifting, prevents irregular tooth grinding, and makes it easier to eat and chew. Consult with your dentist to determine if you are a candidate for dental implants if you need one or more extractions done. Additional reading is here.