same day dental implants: Everything You Need To Know

Immediate vs Same Day Dental Implants Explained

In certain cases, the dental implant is placed and then a temporary tooth or fixed bridge can be attached to the implants either soon after or even during the surgery appointment.

This means you can walk out of the dental clinic with replacement teeth on the same day rather than waiting for months with a gap or removable denture.

However, the implant still has to heal and integrate with your jawbone.

This is a key distinction because same day dental implants refer to how long it takes to place the implant and attach temporary teeth if applicable. The implant still needs to heal biologically and your final teeth aren’t typically placed on the same day.

What Are Same Day Dental Implants?

Same day dental implants can also be referred to as immediate placement or immediate loading or marketed under a catchy name like teeth in a day.

These terms are similar but don’t always mean exactly the same thing.

Immediate implant placement means the implant is placed during the appointment as opposed to months later after the gums have healed from an extraction.

Immediate loading refers to attaching a crown, bridge or full arch temporary restoration to the implant soon after placement.

You can receive immediate implant placement without immediate loading. The exact protocol can also differ depending on if you have one missing tooth or if you are missing an entire arch of teeth.

Because of this, it’s important to ask your dental clinic exactly what they mean when they say they offer same day dental implants to address tooth loss.

This type of tooth replacement can involve a single implant, implant supported bridges, All-on-4 systems, or a full arch dental implant restoration, depending on what needs to be restored.

Same Day Dental Implants: Procedure

Can Dental Implants Really Be Done in One Day?

Sort of.

The implant placement surgery and temporary teeth can sometimes be completed in one appointment or within a few days of each other.

Dental implant placement is an oral surgery procedure even when temporary teeth are provided on the same day.

The entire dental implant treatment is not finished that day.

After the implant is placed, your bone needs time to heal around the implant. This is called osseointegration.

And while your bone is healing, your temporary teeth need to be monitored to ensure they aren’t receiving excessive pressure.

Once your dentist determines you have healed enough, they will take the final impression to make your permanent restoration.

As you can see, there are 4 different stages to understand:

• implant placement
• temporary teeth
• bone healing
• final teeth

All of these stages can occur in different timelines even if your treatment is being marketed as “same day dental implants.”

Same Day Dental Implants vs Traditional Implants

AspectSame Day / Immediate LoadingTraditional / Delayed LoadingImplant placementImplant placed surgicallyImplant placed surgicallyTemporary toothMay be attached shortly afterwardsMay be delayed or a temporary option used a few weeks laterPrimary stabilityParticularly important to ensure successStill important for successOsseointegrationStill required for long-term successStill required for long-term successFinal restorationUsually connected after osseointegrationUsually connected after osseointegrationEating restrictionsOften necessary with immediate loadingDependent on procedureSuitabilityCase dependent. Immediate loading not suitable for allTraditional implants can be used in any caseTreatment stagesCan be compressed into fewer appointmentsStages usually take longer

Summary

Neither same-day or traditional implants are better than the other.

The right question to ask is whether immediate loading is a good option based on the implant site, bone condition, bite, and your overall treatment plan.

For a broader look at how implant treatment works, see our guide to dental implants in Turkey.

How Do You Get Same Day Dental Implants?

Although the result is there to see quickly, a same-day implant doesn’t usually start on surgery day.

Consultation and 3D Imaging

Your dentist will first need to evaluate your mouth, remaining teeth, gums, and bone.

They will take a CBCT scan to see:

• bone height and width
• anatomical structures
• ideal implant position
• position of nearby teeth
• sinus location
• nerves
• areas of bone loss or deficiency

Your dentist can then plan out exactly where the implant(s) can be placed before you head into the surgery.

Modern dental technology, 3D imaging and 3D scans can help with dental implant placement before the surgical appointment.

Same day dental implants should not be chosen because you don’t want to have multiple appointments. The procedure should be chosen based on your anatomy and planning.

Tooth Extraction

If you have a damaged tooth, your dentist will sometimes remove it during your appointment. They will then assess the socket to determine if immediate implant placement is possible.

Not every socket is a candidate for receiving an implant immediately. The amount of remaining bone, infection levels, soft tissue, and ability to stabilize the implant all play a role.

Implant Placement

The implant is placed into the jawbone.

When placing the implant, the dentist is also assessing how firmly the implant post engages the bone. In many cases this is a titanium implant.

Primary stability becomes one of the most important factors during this part of the procedure.

Essentially, the implant needs to have enough mechanical stability in the bone when placed. Your dentist needs this stability to make sure it’s okay to place your temporary teeth onto the implants before the bone has biologically integrated.

Temporary Teeth

If the dentist thinks your implant is stable enough to be loaded, they will attach your temporary tooth/bridge.

Keep in mind that your temporary teeth won’t always function exactly as they will during your final restoration. They may contour your temporary crown so that it doesn’t receive as much biting pressure.

Full arch temporary bridges need even more management when it comes to bite pressure during healing.

Temporary crowns and bridges are therefore used as part of the healing period rather than as permission for unrestricted chewing.

Healing and Final Teeth

Just because you have temporary teeth doesn’t mean your implant hasn’t still got work to do.

Osseointegration is still occurring under the restoration. After the dentist feels you’ve healed enough, they will make your final teeth.

These could use different materials than your temporaries. The contour of the teeth and even the way they guide your bite can be different than your temporary restoration.

For a single tooth, the final permanent crown is normally planned after healing rather than treated as the day one result.

What Is Immediate Loading?

Immediate loading is one of the biggest terms to understand with same day dental implants.

Traditionally, after an implant is placed, you would not have a functioning tooth attached to it. You would wait while it healed.

Immediate loading cuts this waiting period short by adding a temporary restoration a few days after implant placement.

However, there is a difference between placing a tooth on an implant vs. allowing that tooth to withstand unrestricted chewing forces.

Your dentist will design your temporary teeth in a way where you don’t put too much pressure on that implant while it’s healing.

Too much micromovement can disrupt osseointegration. That is why immediate loading is dictated by clinical factors and not just what you prefer.

Who Qualifies For Same Day Dental Implants?

There is no magical checklist we can refer to that ensures you will be qualified for same day implants. Your dentist will look at many factors to decide.

Good Primary Stability

As mentioned above, your implant needs to be placed in a position that provides enough stability.

There are times where your surgeon won’t know if the implant is stable enough until they place it. Because of this, your treatment plan should include the traditional route if same day isn’t possible.

Adequate Bone Available

Not only does your implant need to be stabilized, but it needs enough bone in the right areas to allow your dentist to position and stabilize the implant.

Bone height and width can change the treatment plan your dentist suggests.

Bone density and jawbone density can also influence whether the implant can be placed with enough initial stability.

Patients with bone loss are not disqualified from same day implants. They may just have to change the angle the implant is placed or undergo grafting/staged treatments.

Healthy Gums/Soft Tissue

Gum disease and infection are two factors that should be taken into consideration before starting your dental implant treatment.

Having healthy soft tissues is important for healing after surgery and keeping the implant healthy long-term.

Good oral health and dental hygiene are also important before and after implant procedures for long term maintenance.

Manageable Bite

If you have a heavy bite, clench or grind your teeth, you could put more pressure on your temporary teeth. These teeth aren’t made to withstand your full bite forces right away.

Your dentist may have to modify your prosthetic, protect the implant from excessive forces, or recommend you receive the traditional implant.

Medical Factors

Your overall health can play a role in your healing. Smoking, certain medications, and diseases can change the way you heal.

Like I mentioned above, this doesn’t mean you can’t get same day dental implants. It may just mean your dentist is less confident with immediate loading.

When Are Same Day Dental Implants Not Recommended?

There will be times where the best decision for you is to place the dental implant and wait to attach the teeth.

Sometimes patients aren’t eligible for immediate loading because:

• your dentist doesn’t believe there is enough primary stability
• there isn’t enough bone present to place the implant in the ideal position
• a bone graft is needed to increase your bone
• there is an infection present at the extraction site
• your bite is too strong to allow immediate loading
• the dentist cannot protect the temporary teeth during healing

Before you receive same day dental implants, your dentist should explain that immediate loading may not be possible.

Immediate loading not being an option shouldn’t be thought of as failed surgery. Your dentist is simply saying that the conditions of your mouth favor waiting to attach your teeth.

If immediate loading is not suitable, a traditional implant approach may be used instead.

Same Day Dental Implants Are Not Your Permanent Teeth

I cannot stress this enough. Patients hear “same day dental implants” and “teeth in a day” and instantly think they are getting their permanent teeth on day one.

In most cases, you will be getting provisional teeth.

Those teeth act as a stand in so you don’t have a visible gap while your implants integrate with your jaw. Once healed you will usually receive a new final restoration that takes into account:

• healed gum position
• stabilization of the implants
• your final bite
• the esthetics you want to achieve
• tooth shape
• bridge material
• how you will clean the teeth long term

Same Day Dental Implant Cost

The cost of same day dental implants can be affected by more than just the price of the implant.

How much your dentist charges for a CBCT scan, if extractions are necessary, the number of implants you need, bone grafting, temporary teeth and final teeth can all change the price.

When you are being given a quote for same day dental implants make sure you understand what you are paying for.

You could ask two different dentists for a quote. Clinic A gives you a price that includes just the implant and temporary teeth. Clinic B may include imaging, surgery, and your final teeth in their price.

Same Day Dental Implants Turkey

If you are researching same day dental implants in Turkey you should know exactly what your dentist means when he says same day.

Your travel schedule shouldn’t push you into making a decision.

Before you book your flight, make sure you understand:

• if you will receive immediate placement + immediate loading or not
• if your teeth will be temporary or final teeth placed on day one
• how many trips you need to make to receive your final teeth
• when your final teeth will be placed
• what happens if your dentist decides you cannot receive same day teeth
• who will provide you follow up care after you leave the country
• same day dental implants heal

Patients travelling from abroad should also consider the wider logistics involved in dental tourism in Turkey rather than planning treatment around flight dates alone.

Same Day Dental Implants Questions To Ask Your Dentist

Are Same Day Dental Implants Safe?

Same day dental implants can be safe when performed in the correct patients.

Remember, just because 90% of same day implants are successful doesn’t mean your implant will fall into that 90%.

Success rates don’t work like that.

Osseointegration depends on your anatomy, the stability of the implant, your bone quality, surgical technique, restoration design, oral hygiene, and controlling your bite to name a few.

Don’t settle for a dentist who only tells you the “success rate”. A good dentist will go over why same day implants will work for you specifically.

You can also read our guide on how to find a good dentist in Turkey when comparing providers.

What Can Go Wrong With Same Day Dental Implants?

One issue is too much micromovement during the initial healing phase.

An implant is first stabilized mechanically when placed. Biological stability won’t occur until after the implant has had time to integrate with your bone.

If you load the implant too soon with excessive pressure, you can disrupt this process.

Other complications can include:

• infection
• poor healing
• further bone loss
• instability of the implant
• excessive bite pressures
• fracture of the temporary crown/bridge
• screw loosening
• peri-implantitis (inflammation of the tissue surrounding the implant)

Remember, these complications can happen to regular dental implants as well. Just because you receive same day dental implants doesn’t mean you will experience problems.

Implant failure is possible with immediate or delayed protocols, which is why case selection and follow up remain important.

Same Day Dental Implants Recovery

Just because you get your teeth back the same day doesn’t mean you can bite down with full force immediately.

You will still need to allow the surgical site to heal. Swelling, tender ness, bruising, minor bleeding are all possible during recovery.

How you eat may change immediately after surgery. You may even experience temporary sensitivity around the implant area.

How much you are able to eat will depend on if you received one implant or a full arch, if you had extractions, grafting needed to be done, and what other procedures were performed.

Your dentist will advice a soft-food diet while you wait for the implants to integrate. They should tell you after surgery when you can place different levels of force on your teeth.

A follow up visit allows the dentist to review healing and decide when the provisional restoration can tolerate more normal function.

How Long Do Same Day Dental Implants Take to Heal?

Your teeth can be provided the same day, but healing takes much longer.

Bone and soft tissue heal at different times. Your dentist won’t place your final teeth until they are sure the implant has integrated enough.

Osseointegration takes months, not days!

How Much Do Same Day Dental Implants Cost?

As mentioned above, same day implant prices can be affected by more than the implant.

• Dental imaging
• Extractions
• Number of implants placed
• Bone grafting needed
• Temporary teeth price
• Final teeth cost
• type of implant you receive
• if sedation was used during surgery
• laboratory fees
• bridge material
• follow up appointments

Same Day Dental Implants With No Surgery

Once again, patients hear “no surgery” and think it doesn’t hurt.

Insertion of the implant always involves surgery.

That doesn’t mean it hurts though! Most dental implant procedures are done with you numb.

Make sure you know what you dentist means when they say same day implants with no surgery.

Conclusion

Same day dental implants allow patients to avoid part of the healing process with visible missing teeth.

If you are missing a front tooth, not having that gap can be a huge benefit.

Other benefits can include:

• avoiding multiple treatment stages
• receiving temporary teeth immediately
• receiving a fixed teeth in certain full arch cases
• not having removable teeth during healing

But these benefits don’t take away from the fact that your implant still needs to heal.

Advanced technology can shorten parts of the treatment workflow, but it cannot make osseointegration happen in a single visit.

Are Same Day Dental Implants Worth It?

If you are deemed an appropriate candidate, same day dental implants can be worth it. They allow you to reduce the amount of time you spend with visible gaps and can condense some treatment stages.

But having your implant placed and teeth attached quickly shouldn’t be the only factor you base your decision on.

Your implant still needs to have healthy bone. It needs to have enough stability when placed and months to heal after surgery.

Your temporary teeth also need to be monitored to ensure you are not putting excess pressure on the implant while it’s healing.

Same day dental implants are only worth it if the dentist you choose has a backup plan if he determines same day isn’t possible on the day of surgery.

Sources

1. Group 5 ITI Consensus Report: Implant placement and loading protocols — Clinical Oral Implants Research, 2023. The consensus describes immediate placement and immediate loading as clinically viable and predictable under favourable conditions, while acknowledging biological, technical and surgical complications. (PubMed)
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2. Comparison of clinical outcomes of immediate versus delayed placement of dental implants: A systematic review and meta-analysis — Clinical Oral Implants Research. The review found similar implant survival between immediate and delayed placement, while highlighting differences in complications and other clinical outcomes. (PubMed)
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3. Immediate versus early or conventional loading dental implants with fixed prostheses: A systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled clinical trials — Journal of Prosthetic Dentistry. The review found immediate loading comparable with early loading for several outcomes, while conventional loading showed a lower incidence of implant failure in the pooled analysis. (PubMed)
   View on PubMed