Immediate dental implants
An immediate implant is placed in the jaw on the same day that a failing tooth is removed, instead of waiting months for the socket to heal first. When the bone and gum allow, a temporary tooth may be fitted too. It is not suitable for everyone, and a standard delayed implant is the usual alternative. At Suman Dental Care the surgery is done by Dr. Ohm Rajani, an oral and maxillofacial surgeon (MDS).
Step by step
- 1Assess and scan
The surgeon examines the tooth and takes an X-ray. An OPG or CBCT scan may be advised to measure bone and see the nerve or sinus. You are told whether an immediate implant is suitable.
- 2Remove the tooth gently
Under local anaesthetic the tooth is taken out with care to keep the socket walls and gum intact.
- 3Clean the socket and place the implant
Any infected tissue is cleaned out. If the implant can be held firmly in the bone, it is placed in the same sitting. If not, the socket is left to heal and the implant is placed later.
- 4Fill the gap and protect the site
Bone graft material may be placed around the implant. A temporary tooth, kept out of the bite, or a healing cap is fitted, and stitches are placed if needed.
- 5Heal, then fit the crown
The bone fuses to the implant over about 3 to 6 months. The final crown is then made and fitted. Review visits check healing along the way.
- A tooth that cannot be saved, for example a fractured root or a failed root canal
- Healthy bone and gum around the tooth, with no active infection or only a small, controlled one
- Enough bone below and around the socket for the implant to be held firmly
- Good oral hygiene, and no heavy smoking or uncontrolled diabetes
- Not usually suitable: spreading infection, thin or damaged bone, active gum disease, or a bite that would put heavy load on a temporary tooth. A delayed implant is then safer
Expect swelling and bruising for 2 to 3 days and mild to moderate soreness for 3 to 5 days. Use cold packs on the cheek for the first 24 hours and the pain relief your surgeon advises. Eat soft, cool food and chew on the other side.
A temporary tooth is cosmetic and must not take chewing force, as too much load in the first weeks can stop the implant fusing. Keep the area clean as advised, do not smoke and do not press on the site with your tongue or a denture.
See the implant aftercare card. Call us if swelling or pain gets worse after day 3 or the implant or temporary tooth feels loose. Swelling with fever or difficulty swallowing or breathing needs a hospital at once.
- The implant may not fuse with the bone. This happens in a small minority of cases; the implant is then removed and another can often be tried later.
- Gum recession around an immediate implant can show the metal edge, especially at the front of the mouth.
- Infection around the implant can lead to bone loss. Cleaning, no smoking and regular check-ups reduce the risk.
- Plan can change on the day: if the socket is infected or the implant cannot be held firmly, the surgeon will place it later instead.
- Nerve and sinus: in the lower jaw a nerve lies near the bone, and in the upper jaw the sinus is close. A scan helps plan around them.
- Swelling and bruising after surgery are expected.
What affects the cost
We don't publish prices online. After an examination you get a written estimate that lists each item.
Payment by card, cash or UPI.
Questions patients ask
Do I get a new tooth on the same day?
The implant itself is placed on the same day. A temporary tooth can be fitted in some cases, but the final crown comes after the bone has fused, usually 3 to 6 months later.
Is an immediate implant better than a delayed one?
Not necessarily. It can shorten the overall treatment and reduce the number of procedures, but it needs good bone and a clean socket. A delayed implant, placed after the gum has healed for a few months, is a well-established alternative and suits many people better.
What if my tooth is infected?
A small, controlled infection may be treated and the implant still placed. A larger or spreading infection usually means the socket is cleaned and left to heal first. The surgeon decides at the visit.
Is it painful?
The area is numbed with local anaesthetic, so you feel pressure but not pain during surgery. Soreness afterwards is usually mild to moderate for a few days.
How long will it last?
With good cleaning and regular check-ups many implants last for decades, though this is not certain for everyone. Read how long do dental implants last?
Questions about this treatment?
Send a WhatsApp message or book an examination. The dentist explains the options before anything starts.