What changes if I leave one molar missing?
The neighboring tooth tilts toward the gap, and the opposing tooth that used to meet it drifts down or up. Molars are where food is ground, so a change that starts in one space pushes all the way up to the bite of the front row. Because it isn’t very visible from the outside, many people think it is fine to put it off for a year or two.
When they close their mouth, many people have force leaking into that space and their front teeth touching first, so I bring up the molars even in front-tooth consultations. If you fix only the front while leaving the back empty, the same force comes forward again. This relationship is also covered in the article on molars and front teeth.
How much does the jawbone shrink after a tooth is removed?
When the chewing stimulus stops, the bone at that site (alveolar bone) shrinks in both width and height. A large part of the loss is known to happen within the first 3 months after extraction and to continue for nearly a year. The screw used for a molar has to withstand chewing force, so it needs a certain thickness, and enough bone has to remain on both sides for it not to wobble.
Putting it off doesn’t always mean you will need a bone graft, but the later you come, the more often there isn’t enough bone to surround the screw. If the tooth hasn’t been removed yet, we can first discuss a procedure to preserve the bone at the extraction site (socket preservation).
When is a bone graft needed for a molar implant?
We decide after looking at the actual thickness of the bone and the path of the nerve on three-dimensional (CT) imaging. If there is plenty of bone, we place the implant without a graft; if the width is thin or the height is lacking, we add a bone graft. One more step also means a longer timeline. The detailed criteria are in the article on bone grafts for implants.
What’s the difference between upper and lower molars?
| Area | Bone characteristics | Additional treatment to consider |
|---|---|---|
| Upper molars | Often on the softer side, with the maxillary sinus (an air space) directly above | Sinus lift only when height is lacking |
| Lower molars | Often on the harder side, with a nerve running below | Check the distance to the nerve first |
A sinus lift is a method of carefully lifting the membrane inside the maxillary sinus and placing graft material in that space. It can take longer than a regular bone graft, so if some height remains, we first look at placing the implant without a sinus lift.
How we do it at Wonjin Dental
We start with the bite around the gap. We check whether the neighboring teeth have tilted, whether the opposing tooth has drifted down, and whether the front teeth are taking that force, and then look at the width and height of the bone with panoramic imaging and CT. If there is bone left, we place the implant and wait for it to integrate; if not, we fill the bone and then place it, or place it while filling.
What I show you in the mirror on the day of the consultation isn’t just the gap. It is the tilted neighboring tooth, the opposing tooth that has drifted down, and the point where the front teeth touch first. The bone doesn’t wait just because it doesn’t hurt.
| Item | Price |
|---|---|
| Osstem implant SA | ₩300,000 |
| Osstem implant BA | ₩500,000 |
| Osstem implant SOI | ₩800,000 |
| Simple bone graft / complex bone graft | ₩150,000 / ₩300,000 |
| Sinus lift, crestal approach / lateral approach | ₩500,000 / ₩1,000,000 |
Prices are as of September 2026; other items can be found in all fees.
Frequently asked questions
If I’m 65 or older, are implants covered by health insurance?
Coverage applies only to people missing some teeth, for up to 2 implants in a lifetime. Bone grafts, sinus lifts and the like have a different coverage scope and are explained separately; whether coverage applies is something we tell you after looking at your remaining teeth and bone.
Can’t I get a bridge where the molar is missing?
You can, but the natural teeth on both sides have to be ground down. If the neighboring teeth are healthy, we recommend an implant; if they have already had major treatment, we compare a bridge as well.
Does a bone graft cause a lot of swelling?
It depends on how much is filled. Partial grafts tend not to swell much, while a sinus lift can leave swelling for a few days.
How long does a molar implant take?
If there is enough bone, after placement we usually wait about 2–3 months for the lower jaw and around 3–6 months for the upper jaw before placing the restoration. If a bone graft or sinus lift is added, it can take a few more months.
