Teeth in a Day: Who Is a Suitable Candidate for Immediate Dental Implants?

You have certainly heard of it: teeth in a day, teeth in half a day, teeth in an hour. These are all common terms for immediate dental implants and restorations.

They mean that you can have a tooth extracted, an implant placed, and the restoration all at the same time. The main advantage? You leave the office that same day with a fixed denture. There are certainly great benefits for immediate implants: less surgery, less time, and possibly less cost.

But is it for everyone? When is it okay to get immediate dental implants? And how do you know if you’re a candidate? In this post, we’ll explore what immediate dental implants are and try to answer those questions.

What is Teeth in a Day?

When a tooth becomes non-restorable—whether due to deep cavities, fractures, or bone loss—extraction and replacement with a dental implant is often the only choice. If you look at the options for dental implant placement, there are primarily two ways we can do this.

The first option is what’s known as teeth in a day or an immediate dental implant, and the second is known as delayed. In an immediate dental implant, the implant is placed at the same time as the tooth extraction.

The second approach is delayed, with the implant placed two to three months after extraction. If bone grafting is necessary, it can take up to four months.

How Does it Work?

In a teeth-in-a-day procedure, after the tooth is extracted, the implant is immediately positioned and placed. A temporary bridge or restoration is typically attached, allowing you to leave the office with a fixed denture.

This temporary restoration supports the implant during the healing and integration process, which usually takes about three to four months. After that, the final restoration is placed.

Are You Suitable for Immediate Dental Implants?

Not everyone is a candidate for teeth in a day. Ideal candidates are typically those with good overall oral health. But what else? Let’s list the four main conditions before getting an immediate dental implant:

• Infection-Free Extraction Socket: If an infection exists, it’s more predictable to treat it and have it come back later for the implant.
• Adequate Bone Present: If a significant amount of bone is missing, it is best to graft and develop the implant site, then return three to four months later to place the implant.
• Good Primary Stability: Once the tooth is extracted and the implant is placed, the implant has to be quite stable in the bone with no mobility; otherwise, it will have a poor prognosis and a high failure rate.
• Correct Implant Position: Once the tooth is removed, the implant position has to be exactly where the restoration is planned and within the architecture and anatomy of the bone.

In some cases, we don’t necessarily want to follow the anatomy of the root of where to place the immediate implant. As long as we’re not compromising the position, it’s certainly fine to do.

Patients must also be non-smokers or willing to quit, as smoking can significantly hinder the healing process. Additionally, those with chronic conditions such as diabetes may require special consideration and a thorough evaluation by their dentist or oral surgeon to determine if this procedure is suitable for them.

It’s very important that we pay attention to these factors because violating any of these criteria will increase the risk of implant failure, bone loss, poor results, and certainly not the intended outcome.

Wrap Up

There are specific conditions that must be met for immediate implants to work. The simple rules are the presence of adequate bone, lack of infection and inflammation, and adequate primary stability for the implant.

If these conditions are not met and if the immediate implant ultimately compromises the aesthetic or functional outcomes. If you’re interested in getting a teeth-in-a-day procedure, contact us today at Hilltrust Denture and we’ll build a plan that’s right for you.