What's the Difference Between Immediate and Delayed Dental Implant Placement?
When a tooth is being removed, the gap needs to be filled. Most patients will want this gap to be filled as soon as possible. While dentures are a more immediate option—especially while other options are being fulfilled—some patients are candidates for immediate tooth replacements, such as immediate dental implants mobile alabama.
What Are Delayed Implants?
To better understand what immediate dental implants are, it’s important to have an understanding of what traditional dental implants are. Delayed (or traditional) implants are placed following a 3-4 month healing period after the extraction of a tooth. Sometimes a patient will wear dentures or flippers until they are ready to have implants placed. Often during this healing period the gum tissue may be lost if a bone graft is not placed in the extraction socket. This bone/gum loss can cause the replacement tooth being longer than it would be if it was placed with an immediate implant procedure.
What Are Immediate Implants?
Immediate implants are dental implants that are placed immediately after a tooth extraction. Sometimes a functioning temporary replacement tooth is immediately placed on the implant, instead of waiting months to have a replacement tooth installed. Immediate implants also allow the gums of a patient to remain healthy and to maintain their volume and shape.
Are Immediate Implants Right for Me?
There are quite a few considerations to better understand if immediate implants are right for you. Here are some of those considerations:
- You are missing more than one tooth.
- There are no infections around the tooth.
- You are missing front teeth.
- There is no bone loss in the jaw.
- You want to avoid wearing dentures.
Not all patients are able to have immediate implants placed. This doesn’t mean that implants aren’t an option—it may just mean that traditional dental implants are needed.
Why Choose Implants Over Other Replacement Options
Implants are an excellent choice because of their strength, durability, aesthetic appeal and longevity. Unlike dentures, implants allow patients to chew and bite much like they did with their natural teeth. Single tooth implants are easier to clean than dental bridges and can also—on average—last much longer.
Implants can be made to look very similar to surrounding teeth, giving you the appearance of a complete, uninterrupted smile. This makes implants ideal for aesthetic reasons.
Because of their durability, implants will likely need to be replaced less often than options like dental bridges—which often have a lifespan of five to ten years. This means dental implants actually save a patient money in the long run.
Want to read more about what dental implants are and how they work? Here you go!
Speak with Your Dentist About Implants
While implants are an amazing option, they aren’t for everyone. When having a tooth removed, ask your dentist if implants are an option for you. If they are, ask about immediate implants, should you need an extraction. From there, your dentist and you can decide if implants are the best choice for your needs, and if the placement of immediate implants is an option.
Contact West Mobile Dental Care
We'd be happy to go over you options with you and find out what the best course of action is. Contact us today, we offer a wide variety of Preventative, Restorative, and Cosmetic Dentistry including dental implants. We're available at (251) 666-3600 or via our online contact.