For patients with missing teeth, dental implant technology is the optimal solution. Many considering implants often ask: Can implants be placed immediately after tooth extraction? Let's hear what experts have to say about this question.
Experts explain that dental implant surgery is a minor oral surgical procedure, similar to tooth extraction. It uses local anesthesia, causes minimal trauma, allows eating immediately after surgery, and is virtually pain-free.The implant placement procedure itself typically takes only a few minutes to a few hours. Since biocompatible materials with excellent human compatibility are used, dental implants do not cause any adverse side effects. Patients undergoing implants will have teeth extracted beforehand, and it is generally not recommended to place an implant immediately after extraction.
Typically, waiting 2 to 3 months after tooth extraction is more appropriate for implant placement. This is because the extraction site requires time to fully heal.Under normal circumstances, extraction leaves an alveolar socket filled with a blood clot. Over the following days, granulation tissue grows within this socket, gradually filling the wound. The socket then gradually flattens until the wound is completely healed.
After wound healing, the alveolar bone undergoes a resorption process, requiring approximately two months to stabilize.If a denture is placed before the wound has fully healed, the ongoing changes in the extraction site due to alveolar bone resorption can create gaps between the denture and gum tissue. This leads to food impaction, bad breath, and an unstable, loose denture that may require remaking. However, delaying too long—more than six months without a denture—can cause adjacent healthy teeth to tilt toward the gap, ultimately affecting your own oral health.Therefore, patients considering dental implants should avoid rushing the process. Achieving optimal implant outcomes hinges on understanding the surgical procedure. Conventional dental implant treatment typically involves three stages:
Stage 1: Implant Treatment Planning: Based on analysis of your dental models, panoramic X-rays, and other examinations, your implant dentist will design a personalized treatment plan.
Stage 2: Implant Placement and Osseointegration: The dental implant is inserted into the jawbone. After 3 to 6 months, the implant firmly integrates with the bone tissue. During this period, you may wear a temporary prosthesis or continue using your modified existing denture.
Stage 3: Tooth Restoration: Once the implant is securely integrated with the jawbone, the prosthetic crown can be fabricated and placed on top of the implant, completing the treatment.