Your molars perform an important role within your mouth; they are the teeth responsible for chewing down food so it can be swallowed. Molars are situated at the rear of the patient’s mouth and occupy both the upper and lower sets of teeth. Due to their position within the mouth, they can sometimes be difficult to work with when it comes to dental treatment.
Successful treatment of a missing rear molar through dental implants is high, and when performed correctly the treatment can ensure a patient’s bite remains strong for many years after.
If a patient loses a molar, then it can affect the way they eat and can cause other dental problems. And so dental implants are an ideal solution to help prevent further problems by reinforcing the surrounding teeth and also to ensure the patient’s chewing capability remains unhindered.
While some patients may opt for bridge treatment rather than a dental implant, it is likely that a bridge treatment may not yield the best results; indeed, a dental implant as a molar replacement is likely to look better in the mouth and provide much more strength than a bridge.
An implant dentist can advise on the best course of action, depending on the location of the molar that has been lost and will take into account other factors when recommending whether or not a patient should consider dental implants as a replacement for a lost molar, including:
- The amount of bone in the affected area that will house the implant’s ‘root’
- Accessibility into the location of the missing molar for dental equipment
- The effect the dental implant will have on surrounding teeth
In instances where the patient has insufficient bone mass to support a dental implant, the implant dentist can use a graft to build up the bone enough to allow a dental implant to be fitted. In some cases, however, the location of the missing molar may make treatment difficult if other teeth, nerves or the tongue, block entry to the cavity.
Of course, not everyone elects to have a missing rear molar replaced, but if left empty a gap left by a missing molar can cause the surrounding teeth to shift and grow into the vacated space, thus creating problems with the patient’s bite in later life.
Successful treatment of a missing rear molar through dental implants is high, and when performed correctly the treatment can ensure a patient’s bite remains strong for many years after.
To learn more about your toot replacement options in Long Island, call Broadway Dental at 516-681-2525 and schedule your consultation.