2026-09-07
Yaksu-dong Dental Clinic: When a tooth wiggles due to inflammation around the root (Implants, Bone Grafting, Treatment Period)
This article discusses tooth extraction and implant treatment for teeth with inflammation around the root, leading to extensive alveolar bone loss and mobility. It covers bone grafting and the total treatment duration.
Hello.
I am Dr. Kim Tae-young, director of Bareunyoung Dental Clinic, Yaksu Station.^^
The first and second molars, which we primarily use for eating,
bear most of the occlusal force and are therefore strong, but also susceptible to trauma and periodontal disease.
Tooth extraction may be necessary due to
fracture from trauma, severe tooth decay, or severe periodontal disease.
Among these, if inflammation around the root leads to extensive resorption of the alveolar bone,
and pain or tooth mobility does not decrease with treatment,
or symptoms do not improve, extraction may be unavoidable.
The bone in the lower left has melted, creating a gap and causing symptoms.
The area around the root of the furthest lower left molar does not look good.
Although a significant amount of surrounding alveolar bone had already been lost,
we first performed gum treatment on the swollen gums to alleviate discomfort.
The discomfort only temporarily subsided during gum treatment and then persisted.
It is best to extract this tooth as soon as possible for implant surgery.
A CT scan allows for a much more detailed diagnosis and explanation than a 2D image.
The alveolar bone around the root had already been significantly resorbed, making further treatment impossible.
Due to the curved shape of the lower jawbone, a long implant could not be placed,
and immediate implant surgery after extraction was not possible.
Primary alveolar bone grafting was performed simultaneously with extraction, and after sufficient waiting,
additional alveolar bone grafting was performed in the deficient areas during the surgery.
After thoroughly scraping out and cleaning the inflammation from the extracted tooth space,
surgery was performed 4 months after the bone graft.
Although the strength of the alveolar bone graft site was not yet strong, sufficient initial stability was achieved after surgery,
and we waited until it stabilized again.
The final prosthesis was completed.
You can see the extracted tooth space gradually being replaced by the patient's own bone, becoming more natural.
When immediate implant surgery is not possible after extraction, the surgery is divided into stages,
making it important to decide the timing of the surgery, which is more complex than in typical cases,
and the duration is also doubled,
so patience is essential.^^
In this patient's case, the decision for extraction was made quickly, which helped shorten the time until implant surgery.
Although it seemed like a simple tooth,
the period from extraction to completion of treatment took 6 months.
The patient also diligently kept their appointments over this long period,
and the treatment was successfully completed as planned.^^
Frequently Asked Questions
If a tooth wiggles due to root inflammation, does it always need to be extracted?
No. Extraction may be unavoidable if the alveolar bone loss due to inflammation around the tooth root is extensive, and pain or tooth mobility does not decrease with treatment, or symptoms do not improve. In mild cases, it can be improved with gum treatment.
Is implant surgery possible even with insufficient alveolar bone?
Yes, it is possible. If there is insufficient alveolar bone, primary alveolar bone grafting is performed simultaneously with extraction. After sufficient waiting, additional alveolar bone grafting is performed in the deficient areas during implant surgery to place the implant.
How long does it take from extraction to implant surgery?
It depends on the patient's condition. In this case, immediate implant surgery was not possible after extraction, so implant surgery was performed 4 months after bone grafting, which was done simultaneously with extraction. The total time until the final prosthesis was 6 months.
Why is alveolar bone grafting necessary?
Alveolar bone grafting is necessary when there is insufficient bone to place an implant. If a significant amount of alveolar bone around the root has been resorbed, grafting is performed to reinforce the bone so that the implant can be stably fixed.
Is there a way to shorten the implant treatment period?
Yes, if the decision for extraction is made quickly, the time until implant surgery can be shortened. However, immediate implant placement may not be possible depending on the condition of the alveolar bone, so it is important to consult with your medical team before making a decision.