Immediate Implants: Can You Get a Tooth Replaced the Same Day?

If you’ve ever lost a tooth or been told one needs to come out, your first question is probably the same one everyone has: “How long am I going to be walking around without a tooth?” It’s a fair concern. Nobody wants to deal with a gap in their smile for months on end, which is why immediate implants have become one of the most talked-about advancements in modern dentistry. The short answer to whether you can get a tooth replaced the same day is yes, in many cases, you can.

At Precision Cosmetic & Family Dentistry in New Smyrna Beach, we offer immediate implants as part of our commitment to giving patients real, lasting oral surgery solutions without unnecessary delays. Dr. James Kortbus and our team understand that losing a tooth is stressful enough, and waiting months before any replacement work begins only adds to it. That’s why we work to evaluate whether same-day implant placement is right for you and, when it is, move forward without putting your life on hold.

What Is an Immediate Implant?

The term “immediate implant” refers to placing a dental implant directly into the extraction socket the same day a tooth is removed. Rather than waiting for the socket to fully heal over several months before any implant work begins, the implant is placed right away, taking advantage of the natural anatomy already present in the bone.

This approach is considered a predictable and acceptable procedure, with a key benefit being that there is no need to wait four to six months after extraction for bone to form. When the conditions are right, it can significantly shorten the overall treatment timeline and reduce the number of separate surgical visits a patient needs.

How Is It Different from a Traditional Implant?

With a traditional implant timeline, a tooth is extracted, and the area is left to heal before any implant work begins. That healing period alone can take several months, and the implant itself still needs time to fuse with the bone before a final crown is placed. From start to finish, the conventional approach can stretch across the better part of a year.

Immediate implant placement significantly changes that timeline. The implant is placed the same day as the extraction, and in many cases, a temporary tooth can be attached shortly after, so you leave the office with something in place. The final crown is still placed after osseointegration, which is the process of the implant fusing with the surrounding bone, but the overall timeline is compressed in a meaningful way.

Who Is a Good Candidate for Immediate Implants?

Not every situation is a match for same-day placement, and an honest evaluation matters here. The success of an immediate implant depends on several factors, including the health of the surrounding bone, the absence of active infection at the extraction site, and whether the implant achieves solid initial stability upon placement.

Candidates who tend to do well with immediate implants generally have the following:

• Healthy bone volume at and around the extraction site
• No significant infection or bone loss in the area
• Good overall oral and general health
• A tooth that can be removed without extensive damage to the socket walls

A thorough exam, X-rays, and in some cases a digital dentistry tool like a CBCT scan are part of how we determine whether immediate placement makes sense for a particular patient. If the conditions aren’t ideal, we’ll be straightforward with you about that and walk you through the best alternative path forward. Not every tooth removal site will support immediate placement, and it’s important to know that going in.

The Benefits of Immediate Implants

When immediate implant placement is the right call, the advantages go beyond just saving time. Benefits of this approach include fewer surgical interventions, reduced overall treatment time, reduced soft and hard tissue loss, and psychological satisfaction for the patient. That last point matters more than people sometimes give it credit for, because leaving a gap in your smile, even temporarily, can affect how you feel day to day.

There’s also a structural benefit. When a tooth is extracted, and nothing is placed in the socket right away, the bone in that area begins to resorb, meaning it shrinks over time. Placing an implant immediately helps preserve the existing bone, which supports better long-term results and maintains the natural contours of the jaw and gum tissue.

Same-Day Solutions Start with the Right Team at Precision Cosmetic & Family Dentistry

If you’ve been told a tooth needs to come out, or you’re currently dealing with a missing tooth and wondering about your options, Dr. James Kortbus and the team at Precision Cosmetic & Family Dentistry are here to help you figure out the right path forward. We take the time to actually listen, carefully review your situation, and give you honest answers about what’s possible, including whether immediate implant placement makes sense for you.

We also understand that cost is a real consideration for many patients. That is why we work with CareCredit and Cherry financing to help make implant treatment more manageable, and our in-house membership plan is another option worth exploring. When you’re ready to take the next step, we’d love to hear from you. Reach out to us via our contact form to request an appointment and get your questions answered.