Can facial features change after removing a molar?

Question

Hello doctor,

I have an infected root canal. It is a molar and it is next to an implant. I really want to pull it due to money. But I cannot afford an implant and I am concerned about facial features if I pull the tooth and let it go without an implant.

Answer 1

Hi,

Welcome to icliniq.com.

I have read through your complaint and the relevant details. You can absolutely choose to get the tooth removed in case of financial situations. But what I reckon would be to go for the cheapest replacement options such as a removable partial denture where you still maintain that space next to the implant. Unlike natural tooth, the implant does not shift to the empty space but the load bearing capacity changes. Since there would not be a natural tooth to hold the load every time you chew. It is transferred completely to the implant. So, the more implant gets the load the more chances of its failure rate.

A removable denture for the lost molar will help distribution of the chewing load. And please do not worry about the facial features. It is not going to get affected at all if you remove the molar tooth. Aesthetics is a concern only with the front teeth and not with the molars.