Should Lower Second Molars Routinely Be Replaced with Implants?

Do you miss the tooth?  Do you have a tooth opposing it?  In general it is a good idea to replace missing teeth with implants.

I do not routinely replace second molars with implants.  Most patients will do fine with first molar occlusion.  This being said, it's really up to your individual situation and your preference.  Your dentist can assess your situation and provide you with the risks and benefits unique to your mouth.

No. There is no reason to routinely replace a second lower molar. First molar bite/occlusion is perfectly acceptable especially If there is no UPPER second molar to bite against. However, having said that, your dentist or specialist will assess your bite to customize a treatment plan to suit your personal needs. 

There are several factors that need to be considered when answering this question.The first question, and possibly the most important one is, is there a tooth opposing the site where the second molar was extracted? In other words, there is no need to replace this tooth with an implant if there is no tooth that it will be chewing against. Another question to answer is, is the missing tooth space already a good site for an implant or will it require treatment before an implant can be placed? In some cases, it may not make sense to consider an implant because the amount of treatment that will be needed to create an ideal implant site is just so extensive. 

Unless you are elderly, you should consider replacing your lost second molar with an implant.  It will help to have it there when you lose your first molar, which will happen more quicly if your second is missing and not replaced.

For Most people , second molars are functional teeth and are an important part of effective chewing.  Loss of second molars results in bone and tissue loss if not replaced which ultimately may casue problems with the first molars.  Also if they are not replaced and have an opposing tooth above or below, that tooth will erupt farther becasue there is no contact and that tooth will need to be removed over time.  That being said, if there is no opposing tooth then there is no real need to replace the tooth with an implant.  Also sometimes there is very little room to work in the second molar area and getting the necessary instruments to place an implant in this area safely may not be possible, this is another reason not to replace it.

Some oral surgeons and dentists do not usually replace lost second molars with implants. This could be for a variety of reasons, but in general, if you have a single missing tooth, it's best to replace it as soon as possible. I have often done implant cases involving second molars and it's a great service if you need it.

If for some reason you have lost the lower second molar, replacing it can be a tricky question. One thing I would like to recommend is that you need to replace any missing tooth to prevent the movement of the adjacent and opposing teeth into the empty space. As a law of nature when you loose a tooth, the surrounding teeth will try to fill in the space. The first option to replace the tooth is by an implant as it does not involve grinding down other teeth for support and it is permanent. The second option is a bridge if you have a strong and good third molar for support. The third option is a removable partial denture. The last but not the least is to put a cantilever bridge  but only after very careful evalution of the adjacent teeth and gums.Hope this helps answer your question.

Second molars are functional teeth and important in efficient chewing. I think it is always important to replace the second molars for the following reasons:


Maintain chewing function

Preserve the bone

Prevent shifting of opposing teeth downward


If a patient does not have the opposing tooth, then replacement of the second molar only makes sense if the opposing tooth is replaced also. Having said that, where both the upper and lower second molars are missing, it may be ok to leave it, as  patients may function well with their first molars.

Its not routine to have tooth loss and to need implants but We do place implants into those areas and they work very well. Should not be a problem for you if you need an implant in the second molar area.