For many patients, getting dental implants requires them to have an extraction. This is especially true if the patient wants to get All-on-4 implants that replace an entire arch of teeth with just four strategically placed screws. All existing teeth in that arch will need to be cleared away to make room for the implants. Because this process can be a little traumatic for the jaw and gums, some patients may need to wait a bit after their extraction before they can have their implants placed.
Timeline for Getting Dental Implants After Tooth Extraction
Every patient will have a slightly different timeline for how long they should wait to get their implants placed after an extraction. For some patients, it is possible to have the implant placed the same day as the extraction. For others, they may need to wait several months before the implant can be safely added.
- Immediate placement of dental implants. This is usually possible in uncomplicated cases where the patient has a good amount of bone tissue and no active infection.
- Two to three months after extraction. For patients with less bone tissue, this is the more likely solution. Waiting two to three months gives the jaw time to heal around the implant to make it more secure.
- Six to eight months after extraction. In cases where patients require bone grafting of the jaw after a tooth has been extracted, they will need to wait up to eight months for the jaw to heal. This allows the jaw to become strong enough to hold the implant.
In all of these cases, your oral surgeon will closely monitor the condition of the mouth so that dental implants can be placed as soon as the jaw is ready.
Once the dental implants are placed, patients may need to wait a little bit longer before they can have the prosthetic crown attached. This waiting period may be anywhere from three to four months, and it is just to ensure that the implant has time to fully integrate with the jaw.
Dangers of Waiting Too Long After Extraction
Generally, it is best to have an implant placed as soon as possible after an extraction. But why is this?
Once the tooth has been removed from the jaw, this area will not receive as much stimulation, as it will not be holding anything in place. Without the need to anchor a tooth root, the tissue in the jaw may begin to deteriorate. If the jaw tissue deteriorates too much, there will not be enough depth for implant placement.
Patients without enough bone tissue may have to undergo bone grafting, which greatly draws out the process. Therefore, rather than wait a few years after an extraction, patients should see to getting their dental implants as soon as their jaw has healed.
Do Not Wait Too Long — Schedule Your Dental Implants Today
As we mentioned above, it is crucial not to wait too long after your extraction to get your implants.
Call our office at (801) 446-4428 to schedule your implant consultation today or contact your local oral surgeon.
