Can I Replace My Extracted Tooth During the Same Appointment?

Tooth extractions can help protect your smile from continuing infections and oral health concerns, but having a gap in your smile can be aesthetically and emotionally uncomfortable. Naturally, you likely want to replace your missing teeth after tooth extraction, especially if a prominent front tooth was extracted. If you have a tooth extracted, can you have it replaced on the same day?

Tooth Extraction and the Importance of Replacement

While tooth loss can be a cause for concern, tooth extraction is sometimes necessary. Teeth are usually extracted when they become too damaged or decayed to be saved. However, leaving gaps in your smile can lead to additional oral health problems, including bone loss, shifting of surrounding teeth, and difficulties with biting and chewing. 

When your teeth shift around, it is a gradual process you may not notice at first. Eventually, this damage will become evident, and the necessary procedures to fix it will be far more extensive than they would have been if the issue had been resolved more quickly. That’s why replacing your extracted tooth as soon as possible is important.

Immediate Implant Placement

Dental implants are the gold standard of tooth replacement. They are titanium posts surgically implanted into the jawbone, where they integrate and become a permanent part of the smile that can be used to support crowns, bridges, or dentures. However, they need to be placed quickly after the tooth extraction to ensure enough bone density to support the implant.

Dental implants can sometimes be placed at the same time as the tooth extraction. To qualify, you must:

• Have enough jaw bone density to support the implant
• Be free of gum disease
• Be in good general health to undergo a slightly longer surgical procedure than extraction alone.
• Express to the oral surgeon that you want implants to replace the extracted tooth during your tooth extraction consultation.

Alternatives to Same-Day Dental Implant Placement

If you’re not eligible for same-day implant placement, you may still qualify for dental implants in the future through a bone grafting procedure. This process involves adding bone material to the affected area, which helps improve bone density and create a strong foundation for the implant. Once the graft has successfully integrated with your existing bone, you can proceed with implant placement, ensuring a stable and long-lasting tooth replacement solution.

Explore Your Options with SF Oral Surgery

Replacing your extracted tooth with a dental implant at the same appointment is possible. However, it’s important to meet the qualifications for same-day implant placement and express your interest to your oral surgeon during your initial consultation. If same-day placement isn’t an option, alternatives are available to ensure you can still receive a dental implant. Contact SF Oral Surgery to schedule your consultation and learn more about the tooth replacement options available.