What Are Same-Day Dental Implants And How Are They Different From The Traditional Implant Procedure?
A dental implant is a long-lasting option to replace a missing tooth or one that's too badly damaged to support a crown. The implant is surgically placed in your jawbone, where it fuses together with your natural bone to create a strong and stable attachment point for a crown to replace your tooth. They're easy to care for, as well — you only need to brush and floss them like your natural teeth in order to keep them clean.
One downside of using a dental implant to replace a tooth is that the traditional procedure is lengthy. An alternative that can give you quicker results is a same-day dental implant. However, it's a more invasive procedure, and not everyone will be a good candidate. To learn more about how same-day dental implants differ from traditional implants, read on.
How Are Same-Day Implants Different From the Traditional Dental Implant Procedure?
When you receive a dental implant, the first step is to extract the remnants of your missing or broken tooth from beneath your gums in order to create an empty socket. After the socket has healed, the implant will be placed in your jaw at a later visit and a temporary crown will be attached to it. Once the implant has fully fused with your jawbone, you'll go back for another visit to have a permanent crown attached that will blend in perfectly with the rest of your teeth.
With a same-day dental implant, the first two procedures are performed in one visit. After extracting the remnants of your tooth, the implant will be placed in your jawbone and will have a temporary crown attached to it. The major advantage of combining the first two steps with a same-day dental implant is that you'll have an immediate replacement for your missing tooth. With a traditional implant, your tooth will still be missing while you wait for the tooth socket to heal after the extraction.
While a same-day implant allows you to replace your missing tooth faster, combining both procedures does create some additional risks compared to traditional implants.
What Are the Risks of Same-Day Dental Implants?
Combining the extraction and the implant placement in one procedure means that the procedure takes longer, and it also means that there's a greater risk of infection afterward since more tissue is damaged during the procedure. An infection in your tooth socket after your tooth is extracted can cause your implant to fail. If the infection spreads to your jaw, it can prevent the implant from fully fusing to your bone.
If you have slow wound healing (for example, if you have diabetes or if you use tobacco) or have a compromised immune system, then you may not be a good candidate for a same-day implant due to the increased risk of infection. Otherwise, however, it's a great alternative that can replace your missing tooth much quicker than the traditional route.
Speak to a dentist to learn more about dental implants.
