If you just had a tooth extracted — or you will soon undergo one or more extractions — it is understandable if you are eager to fill in the gap in your smile as soon as possible. Your dentist will probably recommend dental implants as the best solution to replace lost teeth due to the many benefits they offer. When can you get them? The timeline for dental implants after a tooth extraction varies from patient to patient. This blog post discusses how long you might have to wait.
Immediate Implant Placement
In some cases, it is possible to place a dental implant right after an extraction — perhaps even during the same appointment. This option might be available to you if you are free of gum disease and you have a healthy jawbone that is strong enough to support an implant right away.
Early Implant Placement
Early implant placement may also be referred to as immediate-delayed implant placement. It usually takes place two or three months following an extraction. The waiting period allows your gums to heal. If you have an oral infection, that will also need to be cleared up before your implant placement. Because this type of procedure happens fairly soon after an extraction, it usually takes place before the jawbone has significantly deteriorated — and before a bone graft becomes necessary.
Delayed Implant Placement
Delayed implant placement happens more than three months after an extraction. This is usually necessary if severe gum disease or other conditions have seriously affected the tissue where a dental implant in Lebanon would go. You may require a bone graft and other restorative treatments to improve your oral health. Once your jawbone is strong and your gums are healthy, you can embark on your implant journey.
Plan Ahead and Act Promptly
It is best to start planning for dental implants even before your tooth extraction. Let your dentist know that you would like to replace your tooth as soon as possible, and they will discuss your treatment options with you. To facilitate an easier implant process, they might perform socket preservation during your extraction appointment. Essentially, socket preservation is a bone graft that prevents the jawbone from deteriorating and may allow for expedited implant placement.
If it has already been a while since your tooth extraction, it would be wise to schedule an implant consultation sooner rather than later. Jawbone deterioration after a tooth extraction is an ongoing process, so the sooner you seek treatment, the less likely it is that a bone graft will be necessary.
Dental implants are the best form of tooth replacement — but the treatment process requires careful planning. Your dentist will consider all relevant factors before they move ahead with your implant placement surgery.
Meet the Practice
The team at Santavicca Dental Professionals has decades of combined experience and has the skills necessary to provide comprehensive dental implant services, including bone grafts. If you are curious about your tooth replacement options, they would be happy to talk with you. Contact our office at 603-600-6398.