Dental Implants After Tooth Extraction: How Soon Is Safe?
Timing between tooth extraction and implant placement directly affects success, bone preservation, and complication risk. There is no universally "correct" timeline. The correct timing is biologically determined.
Immediate Implant Placement
An implant placed at the same time as extraction is considered immediate.
Advantages:
- Reduces total treatment time
- Preserves bone contour
- Fewer surgical procedures
Limitations:
- Requires absence of active infection
- Requires adequate bone stability
- Higher technique sensitivity
Immediate placement is conditional, not routine.
Early Implant Placement
Early placement occurs weeks after extraction, once soft tissue has healed.
This approach:
- Reduces infection risk
- Allows partial bone remodeling
- Improves tissue management
It is commonly used when immediate placement is biologically risky.
Delayed Implant Placement
Delayed placement occurs months after extraction.
Used when:
- Infection was present
- Bone grafting is required
- Initial conditions were unstable
The tradeoff is increased bone loss and longer treatment time.
Bone Preservation Considerations
Bone resorption begins immediately after extraction. Delaying implants without preservation measures increases complexity later.
Timing decisions should prioritize bone preservation over speed.
Decision Drivers
The correct timing depends on:
- Infection status
- Bone quality
- Soft tissue condition
- Systemic health
Speed is not a success metric. Stability is.
Expert Timing Assessment in Sacramento
At Fusion Dental Implants, we assess each extraction site individually using 3D imaging to determine the optimal timing for your implant. Our goal is the best long-term outcome, not the fastest treatment.
About Fusion Dental Implants: Precision timing for optimal outcomes in Roseville, El Dorado Hills, and throughout Sacramento.