One of my molars is severely decayed and cannot be saved. I would like to eventually have a dental implant put in, but do I need to do it right away? Gordon in Connecticut
Gordon,
Once your decayed tooth is removed the surrounding teeth will begin to move into the space in just a few weeks. This is the natural way our teeth make sure they touch each other and match up when we bite. If you put off treatment too long, serious and costly problems with your bite, headaches, or TMJ may develop.
A dental implant is a great choice to replace your tooth. If you have decided on a dental implant , you should begin the process once any infection from the decayed tooth is gone and the socket has healed. Your dentist may have you wear a temporary tooth to hold the space while the implant is integrating with the bone. After everything is healed your dentist will place the permanent tooth.