Impact of molar extraction on dentition
What will you do if you are having a toothache from a caries molar? Do you prefer to save it regardless the cost and method, or just want to take the simple way out by extract it? Most people taught that it is located at the posterior region,nobody going to see a missing tooth, doesn’t affect their smile, so they feel “harmless” to just extract it! Some might weight it at the bottom of their priority and not willing to spend money to preserve the tooth.
Before you make any decision, let us show you what are the consequences that might happened after extraction of molar.
Consequences after molar extraction without replacement
Bone will undergo remodeling after extraction, the alveolar bone will be resorbed and reduced in height (photo on left) and in width (photo on right).
All the adjacent teeth will suffered some degree of movement, common are shifting and tilting toward the extracted site, rotation of tooth during shifting and spacing of teeth.
Slow eruption of opposing tooth (left photo) till impinge on the gum of extracted site (right photo), caused further resorption of alveolar bone and interference of chewing process.
Over erupted teeth that impinged on the edentulous site, always causing further resorption of alveolar bone.
Over erupted molar sometime may caused interference with opposing teeth during chew process. This further lead to development of Temporal-mandibular joint disorder (TMD).
Imaging our temporal-mandibular joint is a hinge joint, and the molar act as a stopper to keep the proper vertical dimension of the face. When we lost most of the posterior teeth (molars), that means there will be no stopper for the hinge joint at posterior region. The force of the chewing muscles will load on the upper anterior teeth and caused them become more and more protruding.
