The Role of Tooth Extractions in Dental Implants

Having gaps in your smile from missing teeth not only affects your self-esteem but can also impact your oral health. Dental implants are a preferred solution for replacing missing teeth and creating a beautiful, full smile. However, there are times when tooth extractions are necessary as part of the dental implant and restoration process.

Preparing for Dental Implant Surgery

Ideally, your natural teeth should last throughout your lifetime. In reality, many people face tooth loss from decay, damage, infection, or trauma. Unhealthy teeth are unable to safely support your smile and activities such as biting and chewing. Tooth extractions are performed to remove unhealthy teeth and enable the space to be filled with natural-looking, durable replacement teeth.

If you are undergoing a tooth extraction, your periodontist may recommend combining this procedure with dental implant placement. In many cases, the empty socket left behind from the original tooth can be cleaned and immediately filled with a dental implant. New bone growth slowly fills in the socket and fuses with the implant at the same time, firmly anchoring it in place.

Combining these procedures can shorten the recovery process because you do not need to wait for the socket to fill in with new bone growth before having dental implant surgery and then waiting for that to heal. Everything is done at once, and oftentimes a temporary crown can be placed for aesthetic purposes so there is not a gap in your smile.

If you only have a few missing teeth, individual dental implants may be used, leaving your existing teeth in place. However, if you are missing most of your teeth and replacing the entire arch is more practical, then any remaining teeth will be extracted to accommodate a dental prosthetic. Even though the teeth may be healthy or only have minimal decay or damage, their removal is necessary for a full arch replacement to be properly fitted.

Once again, as the teeth are extracted, if your jawbone is healthy and there is enough bone mass available, dental implant placement can occur at the same time. As the site heals, osseointegration naturally occurs as the implant integrates with the bone. A temporary prosthetic can often be attached the same day, allowing you to go home with a full set of teeth.

Your periodontist may also recommend other procedures to support the dental implant process, such as bone grafting or a sinus lift, which can also be performed at the same time as tooth extractions. This creates a strong foundation for dental implants and streamlines the restoration process, allowing you to get back to a fully functional smile more quickly.

Comprehensive Dental Implant Procedures

At Periodontal and Implant Surgeons of Houston, tooth extractions are a common part of the dental implant process to improve oral health and create a stable site to support replacement teeth. Learn more about tooth extractions and how they can enhance your smile.