I Need A Single Tooth Implant, Can It Be Done In A Day?

Looking up your dental implant options in South Ogden, UT? For most people, the process may involve a lengthy healing period that can take months.

But you might have heard about "same-day" implants, which promise much faster results. Are they right for you? What’s the difference between them and traditional dental implants? 

Keep reading to find out.
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Single Tooth Implant Process: What To Expect

Both traditional and same-day implants involve the same broad stages; however, their timelines differ greatly. 

Here’s what you can expect from each of them:
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1. Traditional single-tooth implants 

Once you have an appointment and are found to be a good candidate for dental implants, you’ll be scheduled for surgery, where a dentist inserts a metal post made of titanium directly into your jawbone.

After that, you’ll enter a healing process called osseointegration, where the bone and gums fuse to the implant. This process can take around six months on average. Once complete, you will go back in to get the abutment added, a connector piece that sits between the metal post and dental crown.

During this appointment, the dentist takes a mold of your mouth to create a custom crown. This process takes an additional 2 weeks. Once complete, the crown is permanently attached to the abutment, and the restoration is finalized.
 

2. Same-day single-tooth implant 

With same-day implants, the waiting time is much shorter. Once the post is surgically inserted into the jaw, the dentist will add a temporary crown on top. Your permanent dental crown is still sent to a lab, which can take a few weeks to make.

However, the entire process will only take weeks from start to finish, and thanks to the temporary crown, you will not go without teeth during it. With same-day dental implants, the osseointegration process still unfolds, except it happens with the dental crown already attached.
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Are Same-Day Implants Better Than Traditional Ones? 

Same-day dental implants have a slightly higher failure rate than traditional implants, though the differences are small. 

In either case, a dentist will carefully screen a patient to make sure they meet the criteria for any type of implant, which could include:

• Healthy gums
• There are no oral health issues that could affect healing.
• Healthy jaw bone and a sufficient mass
• No titanium allergy
• No medical condition that could interfere with healing, such as diabetes or cancer
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How to Find Out If Implants Are Right for You

If you want to learn whether dental implants are a good solution for you, Dr. Aaron T. Ward can do a short assessment for you. By understanding your needs and analyzing your oral health, you can get the best treatment plan to restore your oral health and your smile’s appearance. 

To get started, you can request a visit to Dr. Aaron Ward Periodontics and Dental Implants online or call (801) 394-6651.