Implant Immediate Placement

When a tooth must be extracted, we can sometimes place an implant in the socket immediately after the tooth has been removed.

Although each case will be different, placing the implant immediately after an extraction generally involves two phases, placing the implant in the socket and securing a restoration, such as a crown or bridge, onto the implant.

The benefits of immediate placement
An immediately placed implant has several advantages. Extraction and implant placement can occur during the same procedure. The implant stops the bone loss that normally occurs when a tooth is lost, and it prevents the surrounding teeth from shifting into the space. And unlike replacing a tooth with a traditional bridge, there is no need to reduce the size of neighboring teeth. The implant with its restoration looks and feels like your natural teeth when you chew and talk.

Placing the implant
First we make sure the area is completely numb, and then we remove the tooth. We reshape the extraction site and place the body of the implant into the prepared socket. In many cases, we add bone grafting material to the socket to help the jawbone heal tightly around the implant.

A healing cap or an extension is attached to the implant. We then close the gums. Over the next several months, the implant will become fused securely to the bone. During this time, we may place a temporary replacement tooth.

Restoring the implant
The next phase includes a series of appointments to create your final restoration. Though some of the steps might be different in your case, they usually include removing the temporary and making impressions of your mouth.

The lab uses the impressions to make an accurate model of your mouth, including the implant. They use the model to create a restoration that precisely fits the implant and your bite.

When your beautiful new restoration is ready, we check the fit and your bite and then secure it to the implant.

With proper homecare and regular checkups, your implant can be a long-term solution for a natural-looking smile.