Immediate vs. Delayed Implant Placement
Tooth loss can have a profound impact on your oral and overall health. Biting, chewing, and speaking become more difficult, and your confidence can take a major hit. However, tooth-replacement options, like dental implants, aim to restore your oral function and aesthetic.
Serving the Fountain Valley, CA, area, Andrew G. Mortensen, DDS, Inc. specializes in implant dentistry. From surgically implanting the titanium post to effortlessly placing a natural-looking restoration, our family will guide you along every step of your dental implant journey.
If you’re considering dental implants, then you’ll need to acquaint yourself with immediate vs. delayed dental implant placement protocols. Knowing the differences will help you make the right choice for your oral health goals.
Dental Implant Placement
Dental implants are surgically-placed, artificial tooth roots that integrate into the bone tissue of the jaw. With a 98% success rate, they serve as a sturdy anchor upon which our dentists can place a beautiful restoration, like a dental crown.
The process of surgically implanting titanium posts into the jaw is the same for immediate and delayed placement. The vital differences, however, are patient candidacy and projected timelines.
Patient Candidacy
Understandably, most patients want to replace missing teeth quickly. Hoowever, not all patients are suitable candidates for immediate dental implant placement. Let’s explore the qualifying criteria.
Immediate Dental Implant Candidacy
Immediate dental implant placement occurs right after our Fountain Valley dentist extracts a patient’s tooth or teeth. Ideal candidates for immediate dental implant placement include patients with:
- Cavity-free remaining teeth
- Healthy gum tissue
- Sufficient jaw bone density
Patients who do not fit all of the qualifying parameters may be better candidates for delayed dental implant placement.
Delayed Dental Implant Candidacy
Patients must have healthy teeth, gums, and bone tissue before our team can surgically place a dental implant. Therefore, some patients must undergo certain procedures before advancing to implant surgery, including:
- Treating cavities, especially those on abutting teeth
- Remediating active infections and treating gum disease
- Getting a bone graft to reinforce bone tissue
Each procedure requires separate appointments and recovery time, which can delay dental implant placement following tooth extraction.
Timelines
The projected timelines for immediate vs. delayed dental implant placement will help you establish realistic expectations regarding your procedure.
Immediate Dental Implant Timeline
Our team can surgically place a titanium post immediately after tooth extraction for patients who qualify. This does not always mean, however, that those patients can get a dental restoration in the same appointment.
In some cases, patients may need to heal for a couple of weeks before our team can place a lifelike restoration on top of the dental implant. Ultimately, our dentists will help you decide the safest, most effective way to restore your smile.
Delayed Dental Implant Timeline
Remediating oral health issues may take several weeks before our dentists can safely place a dental implant. In general, the delayed dental implant timeline is between 12 and 24 weeks following tooth extraction.
Schedule Your Dental Implant Consultation Today
At Andrew G. Mortensen, DDS, Inc., we provide our patients with quality dental implants that improve their oral health, restore their dental function, and refresh their appearance. Patients can contact us about dental implants, or they may call our Fountain Valley location at (714) 964-4183.