When talking about dental implants, it’s easy for patients to get excited. Most people are psyched about the prospect of a shiny new tooth, particularly one that is likely to stick around for decades after being placed.
However, people are usually a little less excited about tooth extractions, and the aftercare that comes with the procedure. Naturally, they begin to wonder how long they’ll have to wait before getting the dental implant that they’re looking for. If you’re in that situation now, here’s what you should know.
When Can I Get My Dental Implant After an Extraction?
As it turns out, the answer to this question is a little bit different for everyone. When you’ll be able to get your dental implant depends on the condition of your oral health, and whether there are any preliminary procedures that need to be done beforehand. There are three routes you can take:
Immediate Implant Placement
The first option is immediate implant placement which, as the name would suggest, is done as soon as your tooth has been removed. This is usually only possible for patients who have otherwise immaculate oral health, like those who lost their tooth due to trauma or injury.
Early Implant Placement
Sometimes, patients are dealing with gum disease that makes getting implants immediately a little bit difficult. In such cases, they may need some kind of gum disease therapy before they can get their replacement tooth.
These patients can usually expect to have their early implant placement completed between 2-3 months after the initial extraction. After 3 months bone reabsorption can begin to make getting a dental implant dangerous, so this is usually the deadline most dentists will shoot for.
Delayed Implant Placement
However, some patients get dental implants after missing their teeth for quite a long time, meaning that much of their jaw has already been reabsorbed. This often necessitates a bone graft, which is done in order to give the eventual dental implant a stronger foundation.
Under these circumstances, a delayed implant placement will often be necessary. It will usually take around 3-6 months for a patient heal after a bone graft, at which point they can get their dental implant.
Only a dentist will be able to tell you what your implant timeline is going to look like, so it’s important to talk to a professional if you’re curious.
About the Author
Dr. Gus Bal comes to work every day with a mission to improve the lives of his patients, whether that’s through a brand-new dental implant or just offering them a helping hand when they need one. Being able to give his patients confidence, health, and higher self-esteem makes the work that he does each day more than worth it. Dr. Bal received his dental degree from Boston University Goldman School of Dental Medicine and was voted “Best Dentist in Scarborough” by the Readers Choice Awards four years in a row.
If you have any questions about dental implants, he can be reached at his website or by phone at 613-800-1800.