Yes, some patients can get a dental implant placed on the same day a tooth is extracted, a technique called immediate implant placement, but Dr. Daniel Nejat, DMD, a board-certified periodontist at Sola Dental Spa in Staten Island, only recommends it when the socket, surrounding bone, and gum tissue meet specific conditions. It is not a default option offered to every extraction patient, and choosing the wrong candidate for it raises the risk of implant failure. If you are exploring implant options generally, our dental implants page covers the full range of approaches.
Immediate implant placement on extraction day is possible for carefully selected patients with healthy surrounding bone and no active infection. It is a case-by-case clinical decision, not a standard offering, and it carries a higher risk profile than placing an implant after the socket heals.
“The question I get isn’t whether it can be done, it’s whether it should be done for this specific patient. A healthy socket with good bone volume and no infection can sometimes support an implant the same day. A socket with bone loss or infection cannot, and placing an implant there anyway just sets it up to fail.”
Dr. Daniel Nejat, DMD, Board-Certified Periodontist, Sola Dental Spa
A patient who came in for an extraction after a cracked molar was evaluated with a 3D scan before the procedure, which showed enough intact bone around the root to support immediate placement. Another patient that same month, extracting a tooth lost to longstanding infection, was not a candidate at all, and instead began a bone graft to rebuild the site before an implant could be considered months later.
What makes someone a candidate for same-day placement?
Good candidates have healthy bone volume around the extraction site, no active infection or abscess, and gum tissue stable enough to support healing. A 3D scan before the extraction is what actually determines eligibility, not the patient's preference for a faster timeline.
Infection is the most common disqualifier. An extraction due to a failed root canal or an abscess usually needs the site to heal and clear before any implant is placed, because bacteria left behind can compromise the outcome. Thin or already-thinning bone is the other major factor, since the implant needs enough surrounding structure to become stable.
What are the risks of placing an implant the same day?
Immediate placement carries a higher risk of poor bone integration and implant failure than a delayed approach, particularly if the site was not a strong candidate to begin with. This is a large part of why the marketing around fast, one-visit implant promises deserves scrutiny.
Same-day placement asks the bone to integrate around an implant while the extraction site itself is still healing, which is a more demanding biological process than placing an implant into bone that has already fully healed. Our earlier post on the dangers of one-day dental implants goes into more detail on why aggressive same-day timelines marketed by some clinics can work against long-term success, and why a proper evaluation matters more than speed.
What happens if I am not a candidate for immediate placement?
If the site is not ready, the standard path is to let the socket heal for a period of months, sometimes with a bone graft to rebuild lost volume, before placing the implant afterward. This is the more common and often more predictable route.
A delayed approach is not a lesser option. For many patients it is the more reliable path to a stable, long-lasting implant, and grafting when needed gives the bone the support it needs before the implant is asked to integrate into it.
Immediate vs. delayed implant placement
| Factor | Immediate placement | Delayed placement |
|---|---|---|
| Candidacy | Healthy bone, no infection only | Broader range of patients qualify |
| Healing demand | Higher, bone heals around implant simultaneously | Lower, implant placed into already-healed bone |
| Timeline | Extraction and implant same visit | Extraction first, implant placed months later |
Frequently asked questions
Does same-day implant placement mean I leave with a full tooth that day?
No. Even in eligible cases, the implant post is placed the same day as the extraction, but the final crown is typically fitted later, once healing has progressed enough to support it.
Is same-day placement more expensive than delayed placement?
Cost varies by case and depends on whether grafting or additional visits are needed either way. Your treatment plan is priced individually after evaluation.
What if the dentist starts the extraction and finds the site isn't suitable?
Dr. Nejat evaluates candidacy with imaging before the extraction, which is why the decision is made ahead of time rather than improvised mid-procedure.
Can smoking affect whether I qualify?
Yes. Smoking slows healing and can reduce the likelihood of successful integration, which is a factor Dr. Nejat discusses during the evaluation.
Is a bone graft always needed if I am not a candidate for immediate placement?
Not always. Some sites heal with enough bone volume on their own. A graft is recommended specifically when the site needs rebuilding to support a future implant.