Yaksu Station Dental Implants: When is Implant Surgery Possible After Extraction?

Hello,

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

Our teeth are tissues that cannot regenerate.

Therefore, once a tooth is extracted, it cannot be restored,

so it is very important to preserve your natural teeth well,

use them, and delay the timing of implants

for long-term oral health management.

Generally, starting with minimally invasive treatments (small treatment areas),

we can list:

• Cavity treatment (simple resin, inlay, or crown)
• Crown treatment after root canal treatment
• Periodontal surgery for periodontitis

These are approximate examples, and treatment does not necessarily follow this order;

the treatment diagnosis can vary depending on the symptoms.^^

Even after conservative treatment for a tooth,

extraction may be necessary due to periodontitis, tooth cracks, or inflammation of the tooth root.

In such cases, there is no alternative but implants.

Often, when I talk with patients, I receive questions like:

Doctor, when can I get an implant after extraction?

The answer depends on the surrounding bone condition and the degree of inflammation.

It can be placed immediately during extraction,

or after sufficient recovery time following extraction,

or after alveolar bone grafting simultaneously with extraction to maintain the surrounding volume, followed by recovery and placement.

Here,

there might be additional questions:

‘I had a tooth extracted for the same reason in the past,

and at one place, they did the surgery immediately,

at another, they said I had to wait a few months,

and some people waited almost a year before finally getting it.’

That's right.

Although the cause of extraction may be the same,

the timing of implant placement can be determined

by the internal condition.

Isn't it better to wait a bit after extraction before placing the implant??

Most dentists, including myself,

try to perform implant surgery immediately during extraction if possible.

The reasons for this are:

reduced treatment period, inconvenience of multiple anesthesias, and

importantly, there is no difference in the outcome between waiting to place the implant

and placing it immediately after extraction.

Of course, if it cannot be done immediately, one must wait.

Cases where immediate implant surgery after extraction is not possible

typically include severe inflammation around the tooth, in which case surgery is performed after giving time for the gums and internal bone to recover.

So, how long should one wait?

If alveolar bone grafting is required simultaneously with extraction,

the graft material does not immediately become solid bone.

Bone is a living tissue that requires time.

Generally, the following healing periods are recommended:

• Mandible (lower jaw): approximately 3 months
• Maxilla (upper jaw): approximately 4 months

Although it can vary depending on the extent and quality of the bone, I set these as my standards.

During this period, the graft material mixes with natural bone and matures into solid alveolar bone. This process must be sufficiently completed for the implant to be stably fixed.

For example,

if the diagnosis in the photo indicated that implant surgery could be performed simultaneously with extraction,

but the treatment timing was missed,

over time, the surrounding bone may further dissolve due to inflammation,

requiring alveolar bone grafting after extraction,

followed by recovery and then surgery.

The areas marked with yellow circles show the state after recovery from alveolar bone grafting.

Of course, the treatment is ultimately completed successfully,

but missing the treatment timing can double the treatment period.

Extraction and Preservation Surgery

This is a case where extraction is necessary due to inflammation around the root.

A 3D CT scan showed that

the bone around the largest root had dissolved due to inflammation.

The part marked with a red line should be filled with bone,

but the dark area indicates that the bone has dissolved due to inflammation.

In such cases, immediate implant surgery simultaneously with extraction is possible, but it was difficult to predict how much the bone would recover later. Therefore, maintaining the volume by performing alveolar bone grafting around the extracted area is called extraction and preservation surgery.

Approximately 4 months later, after confirming that the surrounding bone had recovered as indicated by the red line, implant surgery was performed.

When the bone forming the walls has dissolved, it is generally better to wait for the recovery period after alveolar bone grafting for a more predictable outcome.

In cases where extraction is necessary,

and implant surgery is required,

the method for determining the surgery timing

can vary greatly depending on the condition of the affected area.

Therefore, we recommend receiving a diagnosis accompanied by a 3D CT scan.

Above all, preserving natural teeth before extraction is crucial, so regular dental check-ups are paramount.

Thank you.^^

Frequently Asked Questions

When is implant surgery possible after tooth extraction?

It depends on the surrounding bone condition and the degree of inflammation. Implants can be placed simultaneously with extraction, after sufficient recovery time, or in conjunction with alveolar bone grafting at the time of extraction.

Is immediate implant placement always possible after tooth extraction?

No. If there is severe inflammation around the tooth, surgery must be performed after allowing sufficient time for the gums and internal bone to recover.

How long do I need to wait for implant placement after alveolar bone grafting?

Generally, a healing period of approximately 3 months for the mandible (lower jaw) and 4 months for the maxilla (upper jaw) is recommended. During this time, the graft material mixes with natural bone and matures into solid alveolar bone.

What happens if I miss the optimal timing for implant placement after extraction?

If the treatment timing is missed, the surrounding bone may further dissolve due to inflammation, requiring alveolar bone grafting after extraction, followed by recovery and then surgery. In this case, the treatment period can double.

What is extraction and preservation surgery?

Extraction and preservation surgery is a procedure where, when bone has dissolved due to inflammation around the root, alveolar bone grafting is performed simultaneously with extraction to maintain the surrounding bone volume. This helps ensure stable implant placement later.

What is important in determining the timing of implant surgery?

The timing of surgery can vary depending on the condition of the affected area, so it is important to receive a precise diagnosis accompanied by a 3D CT scan. Additionally, regular dental check-ups are essential for preserving natural teeth before extraction.