This is a question that the surgeons at Piney Point Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, get often from our patients that live near Houston, Bellaire, Briargrove, Bunkerhill Village, Galleria, Hunters Creek Village, Lamar Terrace, Meyerland, Stafford and Sugarland. Obviously, many patients are anxious about the missing tooth and want to get a tooth replacement for the lost tooth as soon as possible. The answer to this question depends on a multiple of factors and can be broken down into 3 categories:
Immediate replacement with an implant
If the extracted tooth is a tooth with healthy surrounding bone, with no major infection and favorable anatomy present, it may be possible to place an implant immediately at the time of the extraction. The surgeons at Piney Point Oral Surgery are able to place an immediate dental implant and this can be quite successful as long as it is done in right circumstances. The implant is usually ready for the final crown in four to six months.
Early implant placement
If the extracted tooth is a tooth with healthy surrounding bone but it however does have an infection or unfavorable, anatomy, the surgeons at Piney Point Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons can place the implant with early placement with “proper bone grafting at the time of extraction” and that bone grafting is successful. Early placement means that the implant can placed after two to three months. During this period, the bone heals and the site becomes better suited to accept an implant. The dental implant is then placed then is ready for crown in three to four additional months.
Delayed implant placement
If the extracted tooth is a tooth that has had an infection or significant loss of bone or tissue after extraction or unfavorable anatomy (like a very extended sinus floor), the tooth will likely have a significant defect in bone area for implant . Then advanced grafting techniques must implemented by the surgeons of Piney Point Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery. After the grafts are done, then there is usually four to six month healing period before the dental implants are placed. Then the dental implants are placed with an additional three to four months.
In summary, what determines the time for an dental implant to be placed ultimately depends on what bone and tissue structures are available for implants placement. The more severe the loss of bone or tissue, the longer the time before the implants are placed is required for a successful result.