Severe gum disease, tooth decay, and dental injuries are some of the most common reasons to need a tooth extraction. Still, after losing one or more teeth, you’d likely want to replace them to maintain your smile and bite function. Therefore, you might ask yourself, “How long after a tooth extraction can I get an implant?”
As a top provider of dental implants in New Orleans, LA, Dental Arts of New Orleans regularly treats patients who need restorative dental treatments like dental implants after a tooth extraction. Here, we explain when to get a dental implant after a tooth extraction and why waiting periods are sometimes necessary.
When To Undergo a Dental Implant Procedure Following a Tooth Extraction
Dental extractions are major oral surgeries that often require time to heal before restorative dental treatments can occur. Contributing factors to how long you’d need to wait (if you must wait at all) include your oral health, the location of the missing tooth, and how you lost the tooth.
For instance, if you lose a tooth from severe periodontal disease, the wound needs several weeks to heal to minimize the risk of complications after replacing the tooth. The timelines will vary by patient.
Consider these general timelines to learn how long you might need to wait until you can restore your smile with a dental implant.
Immediate Placement
Sometimes, the answer to “How long after a tooth extraction can I get an implant?” is “the same day.” This option is only ideal for patients with healthy gums and sufficient jawbone density at the time of their tooth extraction.
During this procedure, the dentist or oral surgeon will remove the affected tooth and quickly install a tiny titanium post (i.e. dental implant) to replace the tooth’s root. The dental implant will eventually fuse with the jawbone, stimulating bone growth like a tooth root. Once the bonding and healing are complete, the dentist will add an abutment and dental crown on top of the dental implant, holding the replacement tooth firmly in place.
Early Placement
Since gum disease and soft tissue infections can require tooth removal, some people must wait at least ten weeks to let their mouths heal before getting dental implants. The gum tissue must be healthy enough to secure the implant in place. There must also be enough jawbone density for the titanium post to bond to the jawbone.
Timing is everything for dental implants for patients with compromised gum tissues or jawbone density. When you lose a tooth, that area in your jaw no longer has a tooth root to stimulate jawbone growth. Your jawbone density will start dropping within the first three months following tooth removal, jeopardizing the health and stability of your remaining teeth.
Your mouth will need some time to heal after tooth extraction from infection or gum disease. However, your healing period likely won’t extend beyond the standard ten weeks before you’re ready for a dental implant.
Delayed Placement
There are exceptions to the ten-week waiting period that would cause you to wait longer for a dental implant after losing a tooth. If your extraction is necessary to address a long-term, severely decayed tooth, your jawbone might already have substantial density loss.
In that case, your dentist may need to perform a bone graft to the affected part of your jaw to increase bone strength after removing the damaged tooth. The healing and bone-strengthening processes will take about four to six months on average. After that, you can get a dental implant.
Contact Our Office To Schedule a Dental Implant Consultation Today
Do you want to transform your smile but wonder, “How long after a tooth extraction can I get an implant?” If so, turn to Dental Arts of New Orleans. Our experienced dentists, orthodontist, and support staff provide various cosmetic dentistry services like dental implants, teeth whitening, and veneers in a calm, relaxing environment.Discover whether you’re a good candidate for dental implants if you’ve lost teeth by scheduling a consultation with Dental Arts of New Orleans—call (504) 394-5330 today.
