When can I get an implant after my tooth extraction?

If you need a tooth extracted, and you are planning on replacing it with an implant, you no doubt have a few questions as to what happens next, and what the timeline might be. How many weeks or months are needed to heal between the extraction and the implant placement? Can I have the implant placed immediately after the extraction? How long is the whole process?

The following timeline will help you understand the order of treatments and procedures that could be possible in a variety of scenarios. We hope to answer all of your questions as you scroll through the timeline of possibilities related to your extraction and implant scenario.

Diagnosis & Planning

When the intention of the patient is to place an implant where the tooth is to be extracted, our first order of procedure is to examine the area well and determine if it appears to be a good future implant site. A 3D tomography is usually required to determine this. Being able to measure the bone dimension and density from various angles.

Tooth Extraction

Extraction of the tooth is performed by either a periodontist or maxillofacial specialist. If immediate placement of the implant is possible, then one healing period can be saved. If not, there will be a period of time between the extraction and the implant placement that varies from 3 to 5 months depending on the specific conditions of the area, bone condition, etc.

Bone Grafting / Membrane Placement

In some cases bone grafting, and placement of a containment membrane is required. This helps to ensure that when the implant is placed at a later date, the quality of the bone is adequate to integrate with the implant. This step is not always needed, and is often decided upon during or prior to the surgery.