Reviewed by Dr. Epstein
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If you are missing one or more teeth, dental implants are widely considered one of the most reliable and long-lasting solutions. They can restore your smile, function, and confidence. Implants replace both the root and crown of a missing tooth, and help preserve jawbone health while providing a stable, natural-looking result. But can dental implants be done in a single day?
We offer dental implants at our offices in Seattle and Shoreline
Can You Really Get a Dental Implant in One Day?
In the right situation, a tooth can be removed and a dental implant placed into the extraction site during the same appointment. This is known as immediate implant placement. It eliminates the separate healing period that would otherwise occur between tooth extraction and implant surgery.
However, “same-day dental implants” does not necessarily mean you receive your permanent tooth that day. What can be completed during the appointment depends on whether you are replacing a single tooth or receiving full-arch treatment and whether the implants have enough initial stability to support a temporary restoration.
What Happens During Same-Day Implant Treatment?
With extensive experience in immediate implant placement, Dr. Matthew Epstein uses detailed pre-surgical planning to streamline treatment and complete multiple steps in a single visit when appropriate.
For a single failing tooth, the process may include:
- Remove the tooth. The damaged or non-restorable tooth is carefully extracted while preserving as much surrounding bone as possible.
- Prepare the site. The extraction site is evaluated and bone grafting may be performed when needed.
- Place the implant. When the bone provides enough support, the dental implant is placed immediately rather than waiting months after the extraction.
- Place a healing abutment or temporary tooth when appropriate. Depending on the location of the tooth and the stability of the implant, we may place an anatomic healing abutment or provide a temporary restoration.
- Allow the implant to heal. Over the following months, the implant integrates with the jawbone. Once healing is complete, the final crown can be placed.
This means a patient who arrives with a tooth that cannot be saved may be able to have the consultation, extraction, bone grafting, and implant placement completed in a single visit, rather than returning for several separate surgical procedures.
What About Same-Day Full-Arch Dental Implants?
Same-day treatment works differently when replacing an entire arch of teeth. During full-arch dental implant treatment, several strategically positioned implants are placed to support a fixed bridge.
Our in-house prosthodontist, Dr. Stephanie Yeung, works directly with our surgical team on full-arch and hybrid implant cases. Using digital planning, photogrammetry, and in-house 3D printing, we can design and fabricate the temporary restoration without relying on an outside dental lab.
In appropriate cases, the implants and a fixed temporary set of teeth can therefore be placed on the same day. You wear the temporary restoration while the implants integrate with the jawbone. After healing, the temporary teeth are replaced with the final restoration.
Why Can’t Everyone Get an Implant the Same Day?
The ability to place an implant immediately depends on what we find when we evaluate the tooth, bone, and surrounding tissues. Most importantly, there must be enough healthy bone to position the implant securely.
Immediate placement may be possible when there is:
- Enough bone to achieve strong initial implant stability
- A suitable extraction site
- Healthy or manageable gum tissue
- An implant position that can be planned safely and predictably
- Overall health that supports normal healing
If we cannot achieve the stability needed for predictable healing, a staged approach may be safer. In that case, the tooth may be removed and the area grafted first, with implant placement performed after the site has healed.
Find Out if Same-Day Implants Are Right for You
A consultation is the best way to learn whether your tooth can be removed and replaced with an implant during one appointment. We will review your bone health, the condition of the tooth and the stability needed to support an immediate implant.
To book an appointment at Green Lake Oral & Facial Surgery in Seattle, WA, call (206) 641-7212. To book at JAWNT Oral Surgery in Shoreline, WA, call (206) 848-5788.
FAQ
Are same-day dental implants permanent?
The implant is intended to provide a long-term tooth replacement. However, the crown or bridge attached on the day of surgery is often temporary and replaced after healing.
Do immediate dental implants hurt more?
No, immediate dental implants are not necessarily more painful than having an extraction and implant placement at separate appointments. Because both procedures are completed during the same visit, you also go through one initial recovery period instead of healing from two separate surgeries.
Can full-mouth dental implants be completed in one day?
Yes, in appropriate cases, multiple implants can be placed and a fixed temporary set of teeth can be delivered on the same day. You can leave the office with functional temporary teeth while the implants heal and integrate with the jawbone. Once healing is complete, the temporary restoration is replaced with your final teeth.
