he loss of a molar tooth is likely to impact your chewing ability, and chewing affects digestion and health. Discomfort aside, there are other health issues. For instance, the area where you lost the molar will begin to shift, you will lose bone structure, and your facial structure will alter. This is where dental implants become vital, as a dental implant for a molar tooth provides a strong, effective way to not only restore chewing but also maintain the integrity of your smile!
In this blog post, we hope to provide an overview of dental implants and molar teeth, what molar implant surgery entails, the proper comparison between tooth extraction and tooth implant, and how dental implants are taking the process of restoring chewing ability and health to a whole new level. If you are currently dealing with the loss of molars, or are just interested in the entire process, this blog has something for you to help determine if a dental implant is the right option to restore your health and dental abilities!
Why Molar Tooth Replacement is Crucial
While losing a molar safety tooth may seem like an insignificant issue, it can be something that can affect your overall oral health and quality of life long-term. Molars are necessary to break down food effectively, maintain bite stability, and keep the structure of your face intact. The absence of one or more molars has many ramifications, both for oral health and overall health. Here’s why you need to replace a missing molar for long-term health:
- Chewing Forces: Molars are intended to handle heavy forces during chewing and must be present to properly break down food. Not having molars makes it immensely harder and less comfortable to eat.
- Occlusion (bite) stability: The gap that a missing molar forms, leads to adjacent teeth drifting and promotes misaligned teeth and dental (bite) problems after the development of complications like Temporomandibular (TMJ or TMD) Disorders develop, which are difficult to treat and can be painful.
- Opposing Tooth Over-Erption: The tooth right across from the missing tooth gets longer, and interferes with the bite, after the loss of molar is not compensated for, with time eats into the longterm adjustments being made by your overall bite’s position.
- Bone Density: The area of the jawbone where teeth are missing will eventually start to atrophy. A dental implant will stimulate the bone where the tooth was, reducing the amount of bone loss that would occur without the tooth.
- Facial Aesthetics (Long-term): Extensive bone loss, particularly around the site(s) of missing molars can change the contour of your face, making you appear older and also affecting the symmetry of your smile with other features of the face.
When a missing molar is replaced with a dental implant, you are not just regaining the ability to chew, you are preserving jaw health, facial aesthetics, and oral functionality.
Why Dental Implants are the Ideal Solution for Molars
Missing molars can be replaced, of course there are always options, but the best option for function and aesthetics are dental implants. Here is why dental implants are the best option in missing molars:
- Unmatched Strength and Durability: As a general rule, molars are designed to withstand more chewing force than any other tooth in the mouth. Dental implants have been developed with the same properties and structural requirements as odontogenic tissues. Both can withstand significant force, and dental implants are made with strong materials such as titanium that often last longer and are more durable than even your own original molars.
- Appearance and Feel: A dental implant is the only tooth replacement option that will look and feel like your original tooth once it has integrated with your jaw bone. Once osseointegration us attained, your dental implant will feel completely natural and will function like any other molar.
- Preservation of Adjacent Natural Teeth: Unlike traditional bridges, the benefit of dental implants is that they do not involve altering or grinding down adjacent healthy teeth for use as abutments. This is not only a health benefit for your other molars, but also allows you to maintain the healthy tooth structure.
- Bone Preservation: An implant is placed after an extraction into the jawbone as a tooth root. The implant post replaces the missing tooth root and simulates a tooth’s stimulus to the jawbone. Consequently, an implant should prevent natural bone from deteriorating if there is a tooth missing. The result is that you maintain the strength and size of your jaw.
- Success Rate for Long Term: Implantation often has a high success rate when placed properly and maintained. They are a long term solution for missing molars and with the proper treatment plan, an implant can last for many years.
- Improved Chewing Ability: Dental implants restore chewing ability, allowing you to eat whatever you want with ease, free from the discomfort and hassle associated with missing a molar, which makes daily activities like eating easier and much more enjoyable.
By choosing dental implants for molar replacement, you’re opting for a solution that not only restores your smile but also ensures long-term oral health and functionality.
The Dental Implant Procedure for Molars: What to Expect
To acquire a dental implant for a molar tooth, there are several critical steps to recognize so that the long-term success of the replacement tooth is ensured. Here is a breakdown of what to expect in general terms during the overall procedure:
Initial Consultation & Planning:
- Full Oral Examination: During your first visit, your dentist will complete a full oral examination, including 3D imaging (CBCT scans), to assess your bone density, nerve pathways, and sinus location, especially for upper molars. This is to ensure that implants are appropriate and plan where to make necessary adjustments.
- Treatment Plan Discussion: Depending on your individual needs, your dentist will discuss a customized treatment plan, which will describe the steps for molar replacement. This ensures that each aspect of the procedure is based on your specific case, which is done for the best results possible.
Pre-Surgical Considerations (Specific to Molars):
- Bone Grafting: In many cases, especially in the back area of the jaw (where the molars are located), bone grafting may be necessary. Generally, this is necessary if the tooth has been missing for some time and the bone has atrophied. Bone grafting helps to restore the underlying foundation necessary to support the implant.
- Sinus Lift (for Upper Molars): If you are replacing an upper molar and some of the maxillary sinus has encroached on the space, then a sinus lift may be needed. This involves lifting the sinus floor and augmenting the bone to allow sufficient volume to place the implant.
Implant Placement Surgery:
- Surgical Placement of the Titanium Implant: The following step is the careful surgical placement of the titanium implant post into the jawbone. This is a precise surgical procedure that allows the implant to be placed with supporting the forces of the molar during the chewing and biting process.
- Wider and/or Longer Implants for Molars: A wider implant, and in some cases, a slightly longer implant is used in molar placement to allow for the forces associated with chewing. Therefore, if it is going to fulfill the functional demand of a molar, it is advisable that the titanium implant be made to withstand this additional durability.
Osseointegration (Healing Period):
- Fusing with the Jawbone: Following the placement of the implant, you’ll enter the next stage of osseointegration, which typically takes around 3 to 6 months to complete. During this healing phase, the titanium implant post fuses to the jawbone which will become the foundation for the final restoration.
- Importance of Healing: This healing phase is important for the long-term stability of the implant as it must securely integrate in the bone to absorb the heavy chewing masses that molars endure for a functional and secure outcome.
Abutment and Crown Placement:
- Connect the abutment: Once the implant site has healed, an abutment (a small connector piece) is attached to the implant; the abutment piece connects the implant post and the restoration (custom crown).
- Place a custom crown: The final step includes placing a custom-made crown on top of the abutment. The crown is generally made of solid material (often zirconia) and fitted to your bite and adjacent teeth for function and appearance.
Special Considerations for Molar Implants
There are several specific elements to consider with molar implants to create the best scenario for the patient. These factors deal with the demands of the molar area as well as the individual needs of the patient. The following are some considerations for molar implants:
Bone Density & Volume:
It is possible for the bone of the posterior jaw where the molars are located to be less dense if tooth loss has been long standing, or as a result of natural resorption of bone over time. In addition, the denser bone of the upper jaw can be closer to the sinus cavity which makes implantation even more difficult, and in many cases involve procedures for bone grafting and/or sinus lifts to ensure there is enough bone structure for a secure implant.
Chewing Forces:
Molars are subjected to heavy chewing forces, so the implant design needs to be able to withstand these very significant occlusal forces. To do that, the materials and the amount of implant space are very important to make sure they can tolerate whatever pressure is generated while biting and grinding the molars. This is why the implant body is larger and stronger than for anterior teeth.
Access & Visibility:
While molar implants aren’t as obvious as front teeth, their positioning is still important. Getting them into the right position helps with not only function, but for cleaning. If they are positioned poorly, it can be more difficult to maintain your oral hygiene which may increase your risk of gum disease and implant failure. A reputable surgeon will place the implant where it functions with your bite while also being easy to clean.
Patient Health:
A patient’s overall health is an important factor for the success of molar implants. Bone quality, general health of the patient, and habits like smoking and teeth grinding (bruxism) may affect healing and integration. For instance, smokers, will likely have delayed healing and those who brux will generate excessive force on the implant as time goes on and also have a difficulty in healing as well. Therefore, these factors need to be evaluated before surgery.
By addressing these special considerations, your dental professional will assure more predictable and durable results, restoring chewing ability and oral health.
Caring for Your Molar Implant
Keeping your molar implant clean and healthy will greatly impact the lifespan and performance of the implant in the mouth. Good practice will not only keep the implant healthy and functioning as it should but it will also prevent the possibility of complications. Here is how to keep your molar implant healthy.
Excellent Oral Hygiene:
- A Good Brushing: It’s important to brush your teeth twice a day, and to brush around the implant crown as well. Use a soft toothbrush with non-abrasive toothpaste to avoid damage to the crown or implant surface.
- Floss Daily: Flossing around your implant is as important as flossing your natural teeth. Use implant floss or interdental brushes made for fitting around the implant to remove plaque and debris.
- Water Flossing: A water flosser can be very effective to clean around a molar implant. The water flosser is more effective than traditional methods to help flush out food debris from hard to reach areas and provide thorough cleaning.
Regular Dental Check-ups:
- Professional Cleanings: Make sure to schedule regular professional cleanings with your dentist. During these visits, your dentist, hygienist, and/or dental professional will clean your implant in depth, which prevents plaque buildup around the implant and gums.
- Monitoring the Health of Your Implant: Regular check-ups will allow your dentist to monitor the periodontal health of your implant, and the health of the surrounding bone along with the condition of your crown. This also allows your dentist to determine if there may be some potential future issues that can be solved before they become severe.
Dietary Habits:
While molar implants are strong, you should still be careful with the foods you eat, especially during the healing period. You should avoid applying too much force on very hard foods during the initial period (ice, hard candy or crunchy nuts) so that you do not break the implant or crown.
Addressing Bruxism:
If you are diagnosed as a bruxer (someone who grinds their teeth), you should consider wearing a nightguard. Without one, your implant can be exposed to excess grinding forces and that can lead to implant damage or failure. In addition to protecting the implant, a nightguard can reduce the stress you place on your other teeth. Less stress means less chance of discomfort or problems developing.
If you follow the care recommendations below as instructed, your molar implant will stay healthy enough to use for many years of healthy chewing function and reduced oral health issues.
Dental implants are a superior option for replacing missing molars in terms of strength, stability, and chewing function. Not only do they allow you to chew again, but they also help maintain bone health and reduce the chance of future oral health issues. Molar implants stay with an impressive success rate for long-lasting comfort in your mouth, so you should consider these as an investment to promote improved oral health and quality of life. If you have lost a molar or are considering getting a molar implant, please schedule an in-office consultation or virtual consultation to go over some details about how a dental implant can improve your chewing function and your smile.