How Soon After Tooth Extraction Can You Have Implants?
What Is a Tooth Extraction?
It is a dental procedure entailing the permanent removal of a natural tooth from the jawbone. Tooth extraction procedures can benefit both children and adults. Various factors can prompt a tooth removal procedure, including:
- Severe tooth decay
- Excruciating toothache
- Dental injury
- Impacted teeth
- Problematic wisdom teeth
- Overcrowded mouth
Once your dentist schedules a tooth extraction procedure, start thinking of restorative treatment for replacing the tooth. The good news is that you have a variety of treatment options to choose from, including oral implants.
What Are Dental Implants?
They are small screw-like metal posts that replace missing teeth. Dental implants provide a permanent solution to tooth loss by replacing the roots first. After the implant procedure, a dentist near you will perform a different one to crown the implant, usually with a dental crown, denture, or bridgework. Either way, your tooth will look and feel like a natural tooth.
The process of receiving tooth implants is not as ordinary as getting dentures. It entails surgery. The invasive measures necessary to place oral implants in your jawbone are enough to complicate the procedure. Therefore, any other anomalies that you may introduce to your process might make it overwhelming for you.
How Long Must You Wait to Get Tooth Implants?
Typically, dentists at Newton Dental Group encourage patients to heal for a while after a tooth extraction before permanently replacing the tooth. Dentists usually recommend waiting about 10 weeks before considering a dental implant procedure. Your jawbone and gums will have healed sufficiently to withstand another dental surgery.
Still, your dentist will be against waiting longer than 10 weeks. The longer you go without teeth, the more there is room for dental complications. One major problem with waiting too long is bone loss. When you lose a tooth, the jawbone remains inactive in that area. Your body begins to break down and reabsorb the bone tissue in the area. Therefore, if you want to replace your teeth with implants, you may not qualify for the surgery unless you first restore your bone tissue through bone grafting.
Besides that, waiting too long to replace your teeth can introduce orthodontic problems where your teeth begin to shift. Their alignment will be flawed, so you may need to wear braces for a few months to re-shift them.
Getting Tooth Implant Immediately After Tooth Extraction
The healing period after a tooth extraction allows your body ample time to move between procedures without extreme wear and tear. However, some patients are still adamant about getting implants immediately after tooth extraction in Surrey. If this is the case, your dentist can make a provision for you in a dental office to get implants on the same day as your tooth extraction procedure. The factors that qualify you for such an instantaneous procedure are:
- Healthy jawbone and sufficient bone structure even after tooth loss.
- Healthy gums
Choosing the route for immediate implants can be overbearing for you. The reason is that you may be undergoing multiple oral surgeries within a short period. Besides, dentists are still debating the success rate and benefits of immediate implants.
When Is the Best Time to Get Implants After Tooth Extraction?
Whether you wait or replace your tooth immediately, the decision should be unique for you. It helps to count on your dentist’s insights regarding the matter. However, before you decide which alternative works best for you, consider the following factors:
- Your health status – being in great shape for surgery is vital for success. Your health status after your tooth extraction will provide relevant insight regarding whether you are ready for another surgery or not. The dentist will check your heart rate and consider your pain threshold before making necessary projections.
- Tooth’s position – technically, some teeth take longer to heal after an extraction procedure than others. Wisdom teeth take the longest to heal. Besides that, replacing the front teeth instantly may make more sense because of your aesthetics when you smile or talk.
- Existent infections – any oral infections in your mouth are enough to disqualify you from an implantation procedure. The initial reason for your tooth extraction procedure will weigh in on the decision for getting implants. Getting oral implants immediately after an extraction procedure is out of the question if you need a tooth extraction due to periodontitis or severe tooth decay.