From Emergency Extraction to Permanent Implant: How the Conversion Process Works
Your dentist recommends extracting a cracked molar on a Saturday night. By Monday, the big question is how to fill the space it left behind.
While urgent tooth removal can be painful and unsightly for a short time, the path from emergency extraction to permanent implant often takes just a few months.
What Happens Right After the Tooth Comes Out
Once a tooth is removed, the bone around the empty socket begins to shrink within weeks. Your dentist can help slow down this process.
Graft material can be placed in the socket right away to help it heal in the right shape. This is called socket preservation.
Socket preservation helps keep enough height and width for the implant root, often making the later surgery easier.
Three Timelines for Placing Your New Root
It is possible to remove the damaged molar and place an implant the same day. However, this typically requires a firm post, healthy bone, and no active infection.
Many dentists prefer to allow one to two months for the gum tissue to close over the site before placing the post. When infection or damage is present, waiting three to six months for the bone to heal is often safer.
No matter which timeline you follow, going from emergency extraction to permanent implant starts with a careful plan.
Your Path From Emergency Extraction to Permanent Implant
A temporary tooth, such as a removable denture or a dental flipper, can fill in for the extracted tooth until the healing process is complete.
For several months after the implant has been placed, it must integrate into the bone before the abutment and permanent crown can be attached.
These times can vary from patient to patient. To better determine the right amount of healing time, a 3D scan is used.
Lost a Tooth Suddenly? Call Our Team Now to Plan What Comes Next
Dr. Joseph Luke and his son, Dr. Jonathan Luke, have been treating emergency dental cases for patients in St. Mary’s and Calvert counties since the mid-1990s.
The Lukes can design a tooth replacement plan before the socket changes form. Call Southern Maryland Family & Prosthodontic Dentistry at 301-880-4439. You can also schedule an appointment online.