When Should You Get an Implant After a Tooth Extraction?

Once a tooth has been removed from your jaw for oral health reasons, the natural question is, “what’s next?” A small gap may not seem like a problem at first, but if it isn’t filled in quickly, your chewing strength and your jawbone could suffer. A dental implant is often a good option for filling in the gap, but how long will you have to wait first? In this post, you can learn more about how your dentist will handle dental implants after tooth extraction.

When is a Dental Implant Placed After Tooth Extraction?

You have multiple options for replacing missing teeth, but dental implants are often considered the gold standard. This is because dental implants can be used to replace the entire structure of the tooth from the roots up, granting better stability for the crowns, bridges, or dentures being used to fill in the gaps. They also directly combat the bone loss that occurs after tooth loss, and they help prevent the remaining teeth from shifting. In order to receive dental implants, you must be in good oral health, and you must have a healthy jawbone. (A bone graft can be performed if the jaw has already lost some of its bone density.)

How Long Will You Have to Wait After an Extraction for an Implant?

There are actually three different ways implant placement is handled following an extraction. Your dentist will consider your general health, the presence of any infections in your mouth, and the state of your bone before selecting one of the following options:

• Immediate Implant Placement: It might be possible to place the dental implant right away if there’s enough bone structure to support it. This commonly happens if the tooth is being removed due to an injury or some kind of trauma, as there isn’t necessarily an infection to take into consideration.
• Early Implant Placement: “Early” placement refers to when the implant surgery occurs two to three months after the extraction. This gives damaged or infected gum tissue a chance to heal. Every effort will be made to perform the placement as soon as possible before too much bone resorption has occurred.
• Delayed Implant Placement: Sometimes the mouth simply isn’t ready for implants after extraction. Bone grafting and other procedures may have to be performed first, and it can take around six months to sufficiently recover to the point where implant surgery can be performed.

Are you considering getting a dental implant after tooth extraction but are unsure how long the entire process will take? Set up a consultation with your dentist today to discuss your health, the damaged tooth in question, and your candidacy for dental implant surgery.

About the Author

At Bethel Dental, skilled dental experts use modern technology combined with the latest techniques to give patients the best possible service no matter what their dental needs are. They can remove problematic teeth in a straightforward, stress-free manner, and they are proud to be offer dental implants as a solution for recompleting the smile afterwards. To schedule a consultation, visit our website.