Yaksu Station Dental Clinic: What is the optimal time for implant surgery after extraction?

Hello.

This is Dr. Kim Tae-young, director of Bareunyoung Dental Clinic at Yaksu Station.

Sometimes, when consulting with patients,

patients often wonder whether it's better to perform implant surgery immediately or wait,

and what the difference is.

The conclusion is that if the situation allows for early surgery, it's better to do it sooner.

But why can't surgery be performed immediately?

Delayed implantation is performed when the surrounding bone cannot provide initial stability for the implant.

There are various reasons for tooth extraction.

Such as when a tooth has reached the end of its life, or when severe gum disease occurs.

Depending on how much surrounding bone remains, it's determined whether immediate implantation after extraction is possible,

or if sufficient time should be allowed for waiting. In this case, too,

the decision regarding whether to accompany alveolar bone grafting (bone graft) is made

by assessing the condition of the surrounding bone after extraction and with a CT scan.

The case I will discuss today is

a case of delayed implantation after extraction,

where immediate implant placement was not possible after extraction, so the surgery was divided into first and second stages after alveolar bone grafting.

There is a tooth that is generally loose.

When the patient first visited,

they came in because they felt almost no pain but noticed a loose tooth.

There was also a missing tooth,

and the tooth root was fractured, with significant absorption of the surrounding alveolar bone already having occurred.

Surgery was planned for the missing tooth area,

and simultaneously with the extraction of the loose tooth above, the surgery was proceeded.

When the initial surgery plan was made,

the bone around the tooth root was already significantly absorbed.

However, if initial implant stability can be achieved, performing the surgery with a bone graft

is beneficial for shortening the overall treatment period, so the goal is to do it simultaneously.

However!

Upon extraction, it was found that there was less bone to support the implant than indicated on the CT scan,

so after explaining the situation, alveolar bone grafting was first performed on the extracted site out of necessity.

In cases where the first bone graft surgery and the second implant placement must be divided due to such circumstances,

it takes twice as long, requiring a lot of understanding from patients.

This is a photo taken on the day of surgery after a sufficient waiting period.

The implant that was initially placed simultaneously has now been completed with a prosthesis.

Even after waiting sufficiently, the stability was still weak, so we waited again for the prosthesis.

More than 6 months after extraction, the left side was beautifully completed with a prosthesis.

The opposite side is now being treated at another dental clinic because the distance makes visits difficult,

and they have done a beautiful job of placing it.^^

It must have been a long and tedious period, and meals must have been uncomfortable,

but thank you for understanding the treatment process well and for enduring the long period of treatment.

I look forward to seeing you at your regular check-ups~!! :)

Frequently Asked Questions

When is the best time to get an implant after tooth extraction?

Yes, it is best to have the surgery as soon as possible. However, if the surrounding bone cannot provide initial stability for the implant, delayed placement is considered, which is determined by CT scans and assessing the bone condition after extraction.

When is immediate implant placement difficult?

Yes, immediate placement is difficult when the surrounding bone cannot provide initial stability for the implant. This includes cases where significant alveolar bone absorption has occurred due to severe gum disease or tooth root fractures.

Why is alveolar bone grafting (bone graft) necessary?

Yes, alveolar bone grafting is necessary when there is insufficient bone to support the implant. If the condition of the surrounding bone after extraction is poor or absorption has occurred, it may be accompanied to ensure stable initial implant stability.

How long does the treatment take for delayed placement after extraction?

Yes, delayed placement after extraction often involves dividing the bone graft surgery and implant placement, which can lengthen the treatment period. In the case presented in the article, it took more than 6 months from extraction to the completion of the prosthesis.

How is an implant surgery plan made?

Yes, an implant surgery plan is determined by precisely assessing the condition of the surrounding bone through CT scans and checking the amount of remaining bone after extraction. Based on this, it is decided whether to proceed with immediate or delayed placement and whether to include a bone graft.