Immediate Post-Extraction Implant Placement We warn our patients about inevitable bone loss and tooth migration if the extraction site is left alone. We demonstrate how sleeping implants can help preserve the bone for patients who have Medisave but not enough cash. Here's something more exciting. We're talking about immediately placing an implant into an extraction socket. Of course, this technique can also apply to sleeping implants. The main difference is that the implant is placed immediately after the extraction. Let's say the healing time is 2 months. The integration time for the implant is also 2 months. Extraction Time (January) ---- Implant placement (March) ----- Implant ready for restoration (May) It doesn't really matter if you're doing sleeping implants, but for someone who can't wait that long to restore the tooth, January to May is a pretty long wait. Immediate placement means that the initial 2 month healing period is done away with. The implant can be loaded 2 months after extraction instead of 4. Extraction/placement time (January) ---- Implant ready for restoration (March). However, we can't throw our scalpels away. That's because not every case is suitable for immediate post-extraction implantation. Below is an example of a suitable case. A tooth has fractured. The patient wants an immediate extraction/implant placement. Fractured tooth is firm. This means that there is bone all round. No signs of infection. Suitable case. The fractured tooth is first carefully extracted to avoid any damage to the bone. The extraction socket is prepared for implant placement. The implant is prepared. The implant is driven into the socket and good primary stability is achieved. Xray shows the implant taking the place of the fractured tooth. Advantages of immediate placement 1. Non-surgical. Gums do not normally need to be cut. There is minimal swelling and pain. 2. Time-saving. No need to wait till the socket recovers in 2 months, then wait another 2 months for integration. 3. Bone is preserved immediately after extraction. Disadvantages of immediate placement 1. Higher chance of implant failure if there is exisiting infection. 2. Technically difficult procedure. May not be possible in some cases. Are you a suitable candidate for immediate post-extraction implant placement? Give us a call and arrange for an appointment to find out.