Worried about tooth root resorption

[Hania]

Hi

Three years ago, I lost my second from middle front tooth and the dentist recommended that I have a dental implant in that gap. Foolishly I decided to have a denture and whilst it was cheaper it was very difficult for me to wear it and in the end I decided to have an implant.

By that time, I had lost a lot of bone and the dentist whom I saw for the dental implant, mentioned that due to lack of bone, he will have to place his implant closer to my middle tooth than he will like but said it should be ok. The implant was placed about six months ago and since then I have been back to see my own dentist for checkups.

Last week, my dentist mentioned that the implant may have caused root resorption on my middle tooth because it was placed too close to it and root resorption might mean that I will lose my top front tooth. Is there anything that can be done to stop root resorption from damaging my middle tooth?

[Dr Vahid Motahar]

Hi,

Thank you for your question.

I am very sorry to hear that the implant you had placed is close to the root of the adjacent tooth and appears to have caused root resorption. You have not indicated that whether you have any symptoms at the moment.

The root resorption is not reversible and if it is taking place very likley you may loose that tooth and if so to have it replaced with another implant.

Ideally you should have considered bone grafting/augmentation where you lost the bone after losing your tooth. This would have involved more work and extra cost but short and long term would have been a much better option.