Good Teeth: They Don't Have to Be in Your Genes

After a tooth extraction, most people want to be able to get their dental implant as quickly as possible. In fact, for health reasons, it's very important that dental implants be placed as quickly as possible -- otherwise a patient's teeth may begin to shift and complications could arise. But how quickly a dental implant can be placed really depends on the extraction itself and the situation around it.

Immediate Implants: Fast, Easy Extractions

If a tooth needs to be extracted but has an otherwise healthy root, a dentist will often place the implant immediately. This is very common for front teeth that have become manually damaged; as an example, a tooth that was broken and chipped while eating. The implant process can be done in the same sitting as the extraction, which will also lead to a better recovery process for the patient. The only thing that can complicate this type of procedure is if an infection is discovered -- if that happens, the infection should be cleared up before the implant is placed.

Early Implants: Most Extractions

Most extractions will require anywhere from two to three months of healing time before the implant is placed. This is necessary when an extraction is done on a back tooth and when there are complications such as infections. Most extractions qualify for early implants because most extractions are due to some form of tooth decay; when the gums surrounding the teeth are unhealthy, there needs to be some amount of healing time. The infection will be cleared up and the surrounding bone will be given a chance to heal before the implant is placed.

Late Implants: Complicated Extractions

Sometimes complications arise that mean that an implant could take six months or longer. This usually happens with a significant infection (or other disease) that has led to bone loss. Implants are placed directly in the bone, so bone loss means that the implant stands a chance of breaking off -- something that's a very complicated medical issue. Rather than placing the implant immediately, the dentist may need to graft the bone or wait for it to heal. Once the bone has become sturdier, the implant can be placed.

Dentists will generally educate a patient regarding how quickly a dental implant can be placed. If the dental implant is immediate, the patient will generally know this. But dental implants can become delayed if there are complications later on.  For more information, contact companies like Oral Surgery Associates Inc.