How Soon After an Extraction Can I Get a Dental Implant?

If you’ve been told a tooth needs to come out, your next question is probably:
“How soon can I get an implant?”

That’s a smart question — timing matters more than most people realize. The short answer: in some cases, immediately (the same day as your extraction). In others, it can take several months before your bone is ready. Here’s how to know what’s best for you.

🧠 The Science Behind Timing

After a tooth is removed, your body starts remodeling the bone that used to hold it. Within 3–6 months, up to 40–60% of the ridge width can shrink if left untreated (Araujo & Lindhe, J Clin Periodontol, 2005). Once that bone is lost, replacing it becomes more complex — less predictable and more expensive. Usually it requires “lateral ridge augmentation” -a topic for another blog post.

So at Teuscher Legacy Dental, before getting a tooth out, we always plan tooth replacement with the end in mind — preserving bone from day one so your future implant has a strong, stable foundation.

⏱️ The Three Most Common Implant Timelines

1. Immediate Placement (Same Day as Extraction)

Immediate placement means the tooth is pulled and the implant screw goes in the same day. We detailed one of our own immediate implant cases here.

When it works best:

• The bone around your tooth is intact

• There’s no infection

• You want to preserve gum and bone shape

• Most often possible in single root teeth (less likely for molar teeth)

Why it matters:
Immediate implants reduce overall treatment time and minimize bone loss. It’s the gold standard when conditions allow — but it requires precise surgical skill and 3D imaging to ensure stability.

2. Early Placement (6-12 Weeks After Extraction)

When it works best:

• Minor infection or bone irregularities were present

• The site needs short healing before implant stability

• Specific bone grafting protocols are used to allow quicker bone healing

Why it matters:
This approach lets the gum tissue heal and keeps the bone active enough to avoid major resorption. If you get a bone graft, using the right type of bone graft is hugely important, and it must integrate well with the implant system being used. See the table below for more information.

Types of Bone Grafts and Healing Timeframes

Bone Graft Type	What’s In It	When It’s Used	Typical Healing Timeframe
Collagen-Based Synthetic Graft (OsteoGen Plug)	Collagen matrix combined with bioactive calcium phosphate that resorbs as natural bone fills in.	Used for 4-walled extraction sockets or sites with minimal infection. Ideal when socket walls are intact and a membrane is not required.	4–6 months for bone to fully mature before implant placement.
30/70 Cortical–Cancellous Mix	30% cortical (dense) bone and 70% cancellous (spongy) bone particles, often covered with a collagen plug or membrane.	Used for 3- or 4-walled extraction sockets that need faster healing with good volume maintenance.	8–12 weeks before implant placement or soft-tissue coverage procedures.
70/30 Cortical–Cancellous Mix	Higher ratio of dense cortical bone for slower resorption and long-term ridge support. Typically used with a resorbable membrane.	Used for ridge augmentation or sites missing one or more walls, where added structure is needed for future implant stability.	3–5 months for full maturation before implant placement.
Xenograft (Bovine or Porcine-Derived)	Deproteinized bone mineral from animal sources; primarily an anorganic hydroxyapatite scaffold that resorbs very slowly.	Sometimes used for esthetic volume preservation when long-term contour is desired, but not ideal for implant integration. Not used at Teuscher Legacy Dental.	Can remain for years; offers volume stability but limited new bone turnover.

3. Delayed Placement (3-6 months after extraction)

When it works best:

• Larger bone grafting was done at extraction

• Significant infection or bone loss was present prior to extraction

• A synthetic bone graft was used

• The site needs full regeneration before implant placement

Why it matters:
Sometimes slower is smarter. Allowing the graft to mature ensures the implant integrates with dense, healthy bone for long-term success — even if it takes a few extra months.

After a tooth is pulled, the socket is often filled with a bone graft

The collagen plug and sutures after the bone graft was placed

🧩 Tell Me More About Bone Grafts

If the bone is thin, soft, or missing in key areas, a bone graft can preserve or rebuild it. Think of it like “soil preparation” before planting — it gives the implant a strong, lasting foundation.

In Kane County, socket preservation grafts typically cost between $700 and $900 per site, but they can prevent much larger future surgeries. At Teuscher Legacy Dental, the most common type of bone graft (socket preservation) is $869.

Here’s an example of a REAL extraction and bone graft case from Dr Brayden Teuscher at Teuscher Legacy Dental.

📷 Why Digital Planning Makes All the Difference

At Teuscher Legacy Dental, every implant case is planned with 3D cone beam CT imaging and digitally designed surgical guides — the same technology used by other leading surgical centers.
This allows us to:

• Visualize bone quality, and sinus anatomy, and nerve locations

• Place implants with extreme precision

• Often shorten healing time and improve comfort

• Optimize location of future crown (the chewing part of the implant)

(Source: Vercruyssen et al., Clin Oral Implants Res 2014;25:94–99)

❤️ What Patients Love About This Approach

Our patients tell us they appreciate:

• Clear timelines before surgery

• Clear communication about all risks involved. Our reviews often mention how we take the time to listen to our patients’ questions and fully explain everything when they need!

• Gentle extractions that protect surrounding bone

• Predictable healing with high quality bone grafting and implant techniques

• Transparent pricing (no surprise fees). We go over all fees before we ever take the tooth out, and there are no hidden fees. If other offices aren’t transparent about their pricing, check our implant pricing guide and tips resource.

📅 Bottom Line

The right timing for your implant depends on:

• The health of your bone and gums

• Whether infection or bone loss is present

• If a graft or membrane was used, and what type

• Your overall healing and goals

At Teuscher Legacy Dental, we’ll evaluate your 3D scan and tell you — clearly and honestly — what’s possible now and what may need a few months of healing first.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I get a dental implant the same day my tooth is extracted? Yes, in some cases. Immediate implant placement works best when the surrounding bone is strong, there’s no infection, and the tooth is a single-rooted tooth. It helps preserve gum and bone shape and shortens total treatment time.

How long should I wait after an extraction before getting an implant? Most patients can safely have an implant placed between 8–12 weeks after extraction if early bone healing is complete. For sites that had infection or bone grafting, the healing period may extend to 3–6 months.

Do I always need a bone graft before getting an implant? Not always. If the bone walls are intact and thick enough, a graft may not be necessary. But when infection, bone loss, or thin socket walls are present, a graft protects the ridge and prevents future bone collapse.

How much does a bone graft cost in Kane County, IL? Socket preservation bone grafts in our area typically range between $700 and $900 per site. At Teuscher Legacy Dental, the standard grafting fee is $869, and all costs are reviewed before any procedure begins.

Does digital planning really improve implant results? Yes. 3D CBCT imaging and guided surgery technology allow us to visualize bone density, nerve pathways, and implant angulation before placement — leading to more predictable healing, faster recovery, and ideal aesthetics.

What happens if I wait too long after an extraction? Bone naturally resorbs after a tooth is removed — up to 40–60% of ridge width in 3–6 months. Waiting too long can require more complex bone grafting later or make implant placement less predictable.

What are the Next Steps?

If you’ve had an extraction (or know one is coming), schedule a Free Implant Consultation today. We’ll review your imaging, discuss your options, and create a timeline tailored to your mouth and goals.

👉 Schedule Online or call (630) 762-0000

-Dr Brayden Teuscher