When Will I Be Ready for Dental Implants After Tooth Extraction?

If you’re undergoing treatment for dental implants but need to have preliminary treatment like tooth extractions first, you may be curious to know how long you can expect to wait before your mouth is ready for your new smile. Here’s a closer look at the timeline for healing, and when you could be ready for the procedure that will bring back your gorgeous grin!

Healing from Tooth Extractions

Tooth extractions can be necessary for a variety of reasons when preparing the mouth for dental implants. Although your dentist will never remove a healthy tooth, they may need to pull any that have severe decay or that are loose due to damage from gum disease and unable to be saved.

Although it usually only takes a few moments to extract a tooth, the healing process is much longer. Not only must your gums recover from the treatment, but your bone must also heal. The total recovery time usually takes around two weeks for most patients, but if they’re receiving a dental implant in that spot, it can take several months.

When Will I Be Ready for Dental Implants?

Following a tooth extraction, your dentist wants to ensure that your jawbone is healthy and strong before attempting another procedure. For dental implants to be successful, you’ll need sufficient density in your jaw to support it. To ensure that everything has healed and is in good condition, you’ll need to wait at least ten weeks before undergoing dental implant surgery.  If you require any other preliminary treatments such as a bone graft, sinus lift, or gum disease treatment, those may add to the length of the wait before you’re ready for surgery.

How Can I Heal Faster from a Tooth Extraction?

While there isn’t really a way to guarantee that you’ll heal faster from a tooth extraction, one way to ensure that you heal as quickly as possible is to follow your dentist’s aftercare instructions. These include things like not drinking from a straw to keep your incision clot intact to prevent dry socket, not smoking (which thins the blood and dries out the mouth), and even cleaning guidelines for your extraction site.

How Long Does It Take to Heal from Dental Implant Surgery?

Once you’ve had your dental implant surgery, there is another healing process required. This usually takes a bit longer than an extraction, typically about four to six months. During this time, your dental implant will fuse with the jawbone through a process called osseointegration. This period is extremely crucial to ensure that your dental implants don’t fail. Once complete, you will be able to get your abutments placed, and in a few more weeks, you’ll likely be able to receive your final restoration, the teeth in your new smile!

Remember, healing from a tooth extraction is an important step in the dental implant process, which can take up to six months or more. This time allows your jaw to recover so your dentist can ensure that your teeth and gums are healthy enough to support your prosthetic. If you have any questions or concerns at any point throughout the process, please don’t hesitate to reach out to your dental team for help.

About Dr. Ifraitekh

Dr. Abdallah Ifraitekh has over 24 years of experience protecting and restoring smiles. A graduate of the Boston University Henry M. Goldman School of Dental Medicine, he has expertise in a variety of specialties including oral surgery, endodontics, prosthodontics, periodontics, dental implants, and laser dentistry. To schedule an appointment at 1460 Dental Studio of Georgetown for dental implants or for preliminary care such as a tooth extraction, visit our website or call us today at 512-763-5774.