are dental implants medically necessary?

[Jemma78]

Hi

I lost a back molar tooth about three months ago. The tooth decayed and I left it a bit too late to see the dentist and unfortunately the dentist could not save it and I had to have it removed.

The dentist offered me the option of a plate or a bridge or an implant. I dont like the idea of a plate or a bridge and I am more interested in getting a dental implant.

I would like to know if dental implants are actually medically necessary. I mean if I left the gap as it is could there be any problems in the future with my jaw. Is there a chance that my jaw bone could shrink and change the way my face looks if I dont have an implant?

[Dr Mohsen J. Esfahani]

When a tooth is removed, the bone in the socket begins to resorb and remodel, this does not change the shape of your face but if an implant is not placed and time passes by, you may find that you will need bone grafting/bone augmentation if you decide that you want an implant placed in that region in the future.

There is also a possibility that if the gap is not closed the neighbouring teeth may drift and overerupt into the gap. Overeruption may create gum problems for the teeth concerned and may make cleaning a bit more difficult.

However I would not say that dental implants are medically necessary as many patients have gaps in their mouths and are medically fine.