Extraction & Implant: How Soon Can You Replace a Tooth?

When a tooth is severely infected or there is irreversible decay, an extraction may be the only remaining way to avoid further oral health complications. Dental implants are a common replacement for missing teeth. For some patients, an extraction and dental implant placement can take place in one procedure that saves time and money.

Why Tooth Extraction and Implants Are Recommended

If you have decayed or damaged teeth, your dentist may suggest an extraction to prevent the spread of infection or if the tooth is unsavable. Here are some common reasons a tooth might need extracting:

  • Preparation for a full mouth of dental implants 

  • Severe decay and infection

  • Fracture down to the roots

  • Failed root canal 

  • Looseness due to advanced periodontal disease

In these cases, extracting the affected tooth prevents the condition from worsening. After extracting a tooth, it’s important to replace it to prevent your adjacent teeth from shifting. Dental implants can help preserve jawbone density and improve your oral health.

A dentist reviews a dental X-ray displayed on a monitor with a patient seated in the examination chair, explaining the findings.

Options After Tooth Extraction: Implant or Alternatives?

Typically, your dentist will recommend replacing the extracted tooth with a prosthetic. In addition to restoring the appearance of your smile, they prevent neighboring teeth from shifting and altering your bite or facial structure negatively long-term.

Options after tooth removal include:

Dental implants tend to be the preferred option for tooth replacement following extraction. By fusing with the jawbone, dental implants function like natural teeth for an aesthetic and practical outcome. The implant supports adjacent teeth and prevents any misalignment issues.


The Benefits of Choosing Implants Over Other Tooth Replacement Options

When you’re replacing pulled teeth, dental implants offer several advantages over alternatives.

  • Durable and long-lasting – They can last from 10 years up to a lifetime

  • Easy maintenance – Brush and floss them like your natural teeth

  • Preserve facial structure – Prevent loss of jawbone and stimulate surrounding tissue

Compared to removable bridges or dentures, dental implants offer greater stability, aesthetic appeal, and durability. Dental implants feel and function like your natural teeth compared to alternative tooth replacement options that take time to get used to. 

A detailed 3D rendering shows the components of a dental implant, including the implant screw, abutment, and crown, aligned for placement in the gum.

How Long to Wait After a Tooth Extraction for an Implant 

How long to wait after tooth extraction for an implant depends on your individual oral health condition and treatment plan. Some factors influencing the implant’s placement timing include your bone health, complexity of the tooth extraction, and presence of infection.

In some cases, your dentist may recommend placing the implant on the same day as the tooth extraction. But in other cases, you may need to wait up to ten weeks to heal before the dentist schedules your implant surgery. 

Can You Get a Tooth Extraction & Implant on the Same Day?

Same day tooth extraction and dental implants are possible, but not always. When possible, dentists prefer to do a same day extraction and implant. You’ll only have to recover once instead of twice and the process is often more affordable. 

Pre-existing conditions like gum disease or underlying medical conditions like diabetes can make a tooth extraction and implant on the same day too risky. Similarly, if your jawbone is unhealthy, additional treatment may be necessary first. For example, bone grafting can strengthen a weak jawbone before your dentist places an implant. 

dentist explains dental implant components to a patient using a model showing the implant, abutment, and crown in a cross-sectional view of the gum and bone.

What Is the Tooth Extraction and Implant Process?

The tooth extraction and implant process involves multiple steps and visits with your dentist. First, you’ll have a pre-operative consultation for a diagnosis, x-ray, and treatment plan. Next is the tooth extraction and dental implant placement. The final steps involve healing and attaching the prosthetic tooth. 

Step 1: Initial assessment 

Your dentist will perform an initial exam which may include an x-ray to evaluate your bone, gum, and tissue health. Then, you’ll receive a personalized treatment plan and discuss tooth replacement options and whether dental implants are right for you.

Step 2: Tooth Extraction 

The dentist removes the unhealthy tooth in a painless procedure. First, the surrounding tissue is numbed with a local anesthesia, so you don’t feel any pain. Then, your dentist carefully extracts the tooth. You’ll need to follow your dentist’s post-operative healing instructions to ensure proper healing and prevent infection. Some typical aftercare instructions include:

  • Using cold packs to reduce swelling

  • Avoiding crunchy, chewy, and hard foods

  • Drinking from a straw

  • Avoiding smoking

  • Taking antibiotics or pain medications

It’s also important to keep the extraction site clean with good oral hygiene habits. Continue to brush twice daily and floss once per day.

Step 3: Implant Placement

Once your dentist determines that your jawbone, gums, and surrounding teeth are healthy enough, it’s time for the dental implant placement. A titanium post is implanted in the jawbone in a surgical procedure. The implant acts as the root of the tooth and an anchor for the prosthetic attachment.

Step 4: Healing and Prosthetic Attachment 

During the healing process, osseointegration takes place, and the tissue in your jawbone grows around the post of the implant. Healing can take several months, during which your dentist will provide a temporary replacement tooth for you. After healing, your dentist can attach the abutment and prosthetic tooth to the titanium post. At this point, your new implant is ready to use. 

A diagram explains the dental bone graft process in four steps: tooth removal, bone loss, bone grafting with a membrane, and placement of a dental implant.

Is a Bone Graft Necessary After a Tooth Extraction?

Whether or not a bone graft is necessary after molar extraction depends on your jawbone health. Placing an implant after an extraction without a bone graft may be possible if you have enough bone. 

However, bone grafts are common for many patients who want to get implants following an extraction. A bone graft can help improve the long-term results of your implant and promote bone growth around the extraction site. They prevent jawbone from deteriorating and reduce the possibility of needing further treatments.

<H2: Dental Implant Aftercare: What to Expect Post-Surgery> 

After dental implant surgery, you’ll need a few days to recover and should avoid any strenuous physical activities for the first 24 hours. Here’s what to expect post-surgery with dental implant aftercare:

  • Bleeding and discomfort may last for a few hours after surgery

  • Use cold packs and apply gentle pressure to reduce swelling

  • Avoid rinsing your mouth or brushing your teeth for the first 24 hours

  • Avoid smoking and vigorous activity for 10 days

  • Rinse your mouth out with warm salt water between meals

  • Stick to soft foods for the first few days and avoid harder foods

Your dentist will give you detailed instructions for your recovery. By following instructions precisely, you can ensure a speedy recovery and successful healing. 

Benefits and Risks of Immediate Implants 

Every patient has unique dental needs that affect how long it takes between extracting the tooth and replacing it with an implant. Generally, replacing a tooth after an extraction takes 6 to 9 months with time to heal. 

For same-day implants, extraction of the infected tooth and surgical placement of the implant post happen during the same procedure. Same-day implants are more convenient for patients with limited time and deliver faster results since there is only one healing period. 

There are some potential risks and complications to be aware of with same-day extraction and implant procedures. The healing process can take longer and there is a higher risk of infection. Factors like the health of your jawbone and the location of the tooth are also considered.

A cheerful senior woman smiles while seated in a dental chair, with her dentist in scrubs smiling in the background.

Frequently Asked Questions

Who is eligible for same day dental implants? 

Patients without chronic health conditions with healthy jawbone density may be eligible for same day dental implants after a tooth extraction. However, an initial consultation is necessary for the dentist to personalize the best treatment plan for you.

Do dental extractions and implants hurt? 

Tooth extractions and dental implants are painless procedures that your dentist performs after giving you a local anesthesia. You can expect some soreness or discomfort after the procedures, but this can be minimized by taking the medications your dentist prescribes.

How long is the recovery time?

On average, a dental implant takes three to six months to completely heal and fuse with your jawbone. After the recovery, your dentist can place the abutment and crown

Can anxious patients get dental implants?

Affordable Dentures & Implants offers sedation dentistry as an option for anxious patients with dental anxiety who prefer to be asleep during the procedure. 

Get Affordable Tooth Extraction and Implant Services 

Shorten your recovery time and save money by combining your tooth extraction and implant surgery. Schedule a consultation at your local Affordable Dentures & Implants practice to find out if a same-day procedure is right for you. 

Find your affordable denture and implant practice near you.

Sources

https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC9104688/ 

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