We understand if you are keen to fill the gap in your smile immediately following the removal of a tooth. The benefits of dental implants make them one of the best options to replace lost teeth, but can you get a tooth implant after an extraction?
Yes, it is possible to have a dental implant after an extraction, but the timeline varies from patient to patient for when you can get the procedure.
Plan ahead and be prompt
Before your tooth is extracted, consider whether you want dental implants. Tell your dentist that you would like to replace your tooth as soon as possible, and they will discuss your treatment options with you, including when and if you can have a dental implant placed.
One benefit of placing dental implants after an extraction is that it can prevent bone loss, chewing difficulty, bite issues, and other consequences of tooth loss.
Waiting for Your Mouth to Heal
The procedure of extracting a tooth is an oral surgery procedure. If you intend to replace the extracted tooth with a dental implant, you will generally need to wait at least ten weeks after the tooth extraction to allow the mouth to heal.
Yet, if the wait is longer, more bone loss in the jaw is likely (which occurs naturally when a tooth is removed). If the jaw becomes too thin or weak to support an implant, a bone graft may be necessary to strengthen the jaw and prepare it for the implant.
Socket Preservation
A socket preservation procedure may facilitate easier placement of a dental implant at a later date. A socket preservation procedure is a bone graft that prevents the jawbone from degenerating—and it is carried out immediately following the extraction procedure. Sometimes, dentists cover the bone graft with a collagen plug for protection. This offers initial protection for the bone graft, which later dissolves and is replaced by the gum tissue.
Exceptions do exist. Patients can sometimes have a dental implant placed along with their tooth extraction.
There is no way for you to know if you are a candidate for immediate placement of dental implants or if you will need to wait the standard ten weeks for dental implants. After a comprehensive examination, a consultation with a dental professional can determine which treatment option is most appropriate for you and your case.
So, when can you get a tooth implant after extraction? We will look at three possible options for implant timing.
Immediate Dental Implant Placement
If possible, your dentist will offer you an immediate implant—dental implants placed at the time of tooth extraction. The main factors are the density, quality, and quantity of the underlying bone and the absence of any infection in the gum and bone. It is possible to have a tooth extraction and implant simultaneously if the site is healthy.
As the dentist removes the affected tooth, they need to take extra care not to destroy the surrounding bone and tissue. Should this occur, a bone graft procedure will then be required at a later date before the implant can be placed.
Early Dental Implant Placement
Ideally, it’s best to have a dental implant placed within ten weeks after extraction. That allows time for your gums to heal. If there is an oral infection, that will need to clear before going ahead with implants. Because it is still a relatively short time after extraction, the jawbone will not have deteriorated to the stage where a bone graft is necessary.
A gap in their smile can be unsettling for some patients, even if it is only temporary. If you are one of them, you may want to get an implant as soon as possible. Although this is understandable, waiting for a few weeks can set you up for long-term success.
Delayed Dental Implant Placement
Delayed implant placement is when a dental implant is placed three months or more after tooth extraction. This is usually due to a patient requiring treatment for severe gum disease or other conditions that can affect the gum tissue.
Can you get a tooth implant after extraction years later? The good news is you could still be a candidate for dental implants several years after having teeth pulled. Delaying dental implant placement does have consequences, however. The surrounding teeth may drift into the gap left behind after a few months, causing misalignment, so orthodontic treatment may be required before replacing the missing tooth or teeth with an implant. And you’re likely to need a bone graft to replace lost bone.
Implant candidates are determined mainly by their oral and general health rather than when their teeth were extracted. However, the length of time someone has gone without a tooth may affect their jawbone quality. This is because teeth stimulate the jawbone to generate new cells. If a tooth is lost, that part of the jawbone does not receive the stimuli resulting in bone loss over time. Thus, it may be difficult to place implants.
It would be wise to schedule an implant consultation sooner rather than later if it has already been some time since you had your tooth extracted. A bone graft is less likely to be needed if you seek treatment promptly after tooth extraction because jawbone deterioration is an ongoing process.
When it comes to tooth replacement, dental implants are the best option. However, the process requires careful planning. So, if you’re wondering if can you get a tooth implant after extraction, the answer is a resounding yes! But a consultation with a dentist who will factor in all the relevant factors will determine the best time for you. Please schedule an appointment with us to find out more.
Note: Any surgical or invasive procedure carries risks. Before proceeding, you should seek a second opinion from an appropriately qualified health practitioner.
References
WebMD: Pulling a Tooth (tooth extraction)
https://www.webmd.com/oral-health/guide/pulling-a-tooth-tooth-extraction
Colgate: Understanding Bone Grafts for Dental Implants
https://www.webmd.com/oral-health/guide/pulling-a-tooth-tooth-extraction
Colgate: How Socket Preservation Helps After a Tooth Extraction
https://www.colgate.com/en-us/oral-health/tooth-removal/socket-preservation-after-tooth-extraction