Which do you prefer: getting the implant right after extraction, or waiting a bit?

I’ve heard recovery can be quicker with immediate, but waiting supposedly helps with healing for some people? If you’ve done either (or both, somehow?), how’d it go for you?

Had to do the “wait and heal” route after a molar extraction, mostly because my dentist thought my bone needed time. I was super anxious about gaps, but honestly, the healing felt more predictable for me. Anyone else notice if the waiting period made them less sore in the long run?

Waiting worked out better for me too. I had a front tooth pulled and my dentist insisted on a few months of healing before the implant. Not gonna lie, I hated the gap, but the soreness faded way faster than I expected. Felt like my gums and bone were stronger for it. Immediate might be quicker, but I’d rather play it safe - especially if bone health’s a concern.

I hear you on the gap struggle - felt like I was auditioning for a pirate movie during my wait. But yeah, giving things time to settle made a difference for me too. I’d rather have a solid “foundation” than rush it and risk bone issues down the road. Patience isn’t fun, but my dentist kept saying, “good things come to those who heal.” Guess they were right...

But yeah, giving things time to settle made a difference for me too.

That “pirate movie” line made me laugh - totally get it. I waited a few months after my extraction because my jawbone needed some time to fill in, and honestly, I was kind of glad I did. My dentist said it would help with stability, and I did end up needing a bone graft (not as scary as it sounds, but definitely not fun either). The wait was awkward, for sure - felt self-conscious for a while, especially eating out or talking. But I was nervous about rushing it and then having issues later, so I just tried to focus on the long game.

On the flip side, my cousin went straight for the immediate implant route and didn’t have any problems, but she had a really healthy mouth to start with. I guess it really does depend on the situation and how much risk you’re willing to take. Either way, I’ve learned patience is key, even if it’s a pain in the… well, jaw.

The wait was awkward, for sure - felt self-conscious for a while, especially eating out or talking.

Totally get that. My kid had to get a front tooth pulled (hockey accident... classic), and the dentist recommended we wait a few months before even thinking about the implant. Honestly, I was worried about how she’d handle the gap, especially at school. She was really self-conscious at first, but after a couple weeks, it just became “her thing” and her friends barely noticed anymore. The dentist kept saying the bone needed time to heal and “settle,” and while the waiting part was rough, I’m glad we listened. I’d rather have her deal with a temporary gap than risk problems down the road.

Funny thing is, I’ve heard of kids getting implants right away and having zero issues, but our dentist was pretty firm about not rushing it. Every mouth’s different, I guess. Still, I think the patience paid off - she’s got a solid, healthy smile now and barely remembers the awkward phase.

Waiting was tough for me, too. I had a molar pulled and my dentist wanted a few months of healing before the implant. I was super self-conscious at work, especially with the gap showing when I laughed. But the healing time really did help - my jawbone was stronger, and the implant went in without any hiccups. I get why some folks want it done right away, though. If it’s a front tooth, the waiting can feel endless. Looking back, I’m glad I didn’t rush it, even if it was awkward for a bit.

I hear you on the awkwardness - having a “window” in your smile isn’t exactly a confidence booster. I had a lower molar out a couple years back, and my dentist was firm about waiting. At first, I thought, “Why not just get it over with?” But she explained the whole bone healing thing to me, and I’ll admit, I was skeptical. Waiting felt like forever, especially when you just want to chew on both sides again.

Here’s how it played out for me:
Step one, extraction. That part was quick, but I babied that spot for weeks. Soup and mashed potatoes became my best friends.
Step two, the healing period. I had this little gap that felt like a canyon in my mouth. Honestly, I started covering my mouth when I laughed - old habits die hard, I guess.
Step three, implant time. By then, my jawbone had filled in nicely (I saw the x-rays myself), so placing the implant was a breeze. The dentist said the bone was much stronger after giving it time to heal.

Looking back, I’m glad I waited. It’s like planting a tree - you want good soil first or else it won’t last. That said, if it’d been one of my front teeth? Oof, not sure I’d have had the patience. I know some folks get those temporary fake teeth or flippers for cosmetic reasons during the wait, but those things never felt right to me.

Funny thing is, once the implant was in and healed up, I stopped thinking about it altogether. Now it just feels like part of me - no weird gaps or worries about what’s on my plate for dinner.

I get why people want to rush it (who wants to feel self-conscious for months?), but sometimes slow and steady really does win the race... even if it means a few months of soup and awkward grins.

Waiting sounds like torture when you’re in the thick of it, doesn’t it? I’m about to get a molar out next month and the idea of having a gap for months is honestly making me super anxious. I keep picturing myself smiling in photos and just... nope. But hearing that the bone actually gets stronger if you wait is kinda reassuring. My dentist said something similar but I wasn’t sure if it was just their way of spacing out appointments.

I’ve been debating those flipper things for the in-between phase, but I’m worried I’ll hate how it feels. I’m already picky about how retainers fit, so not sure I wanna deal with more plastic in my mouth. The “planting a tree” analogy helps, though - I’d rather have something that’ll last than rush and regret it later.

Anyway, it’s good to know that once it’s all done, you barely notice. That’s what I’m holding onto. Still not looking forward to the soup diet, but hey, maybe I’ll finally learn to make a decent potato leek...

I totally get where you’re coming from. The waiting is so much harder than I thought it’d be - I kept imagining the gap would be all anyone saw, but honestly, after a couple weeks, I kind of stopped noticing it myself. I was super self-conscious at first and even avoided some group photos, but it faded.

I tried a flipper for a bit and…meh. It felt weird, like a retainer but bulkier, and I was always aware of it. I ended up just going without most days unless I had something important. Turns out, most people didn’t notice or care as much as I thought they would. I guess we’re always our own harshest critics.

The “planting a tree” thing makes sense to me too. My dentist told me waiting would give my jaw a better foundation, and while I was impatient, I’m glad I stuck it out. The healing time felt endless, but now that the implant’s in, I barely remember the awkward phase.

Soup diet wasn’t as bad as I expected, but I did get pretty creative with smoothies and mashed potatoes. Potato leek sounds pretty good, actually... Might have to give that a try next time.

You’re definitely not alone feeling anxious about the whole thing. It’s a weird process, but it does get better, and you’ll be so relieved once it’s finished. Hang in there.

I hear you about the waiting, but honestly, I kinda wish I’d just gone for the immediate implant after my extraction. My oral surgeon said it was possible in my case, and looking back, I think it might’ve saved me a few months of awkwardness and that weird “gap” feeling. The healing process was still a thing, but I felt like dragging it out made me more self-conscious overall. Maybe it depends on bone health and all that, but if I had the choice again, I think I’d lean toward getting it done sooner rather than later.

I totally get where you’re coming from. I’m actually in the middle of this whole process and the waiting is driving me nuts. My dentist said my bone needs a bit more time, but honestly, every time I smile, I just feel awkward about the gap. If I could’ve done it right away, I probably would’ve. But yeah, I guess it really depends on what your mouth can handle. Just wish there was a fast-forward button for this stuff...

Waiting is honestly the worst part for me too, especially when you’re counting every day until you can smile without thinking about that gap. I totally get wanting to just get it over with, but I keep going back and forth about whether it’s worth rushing. My dentist said if you do it too soon and the bone isn’t ready, you might end up paying more later if something goes wrong. That freaked me out, honestly. I’m already stressing about the cost - implants are expensive enough without adding more procedures if it fails.

I tried one of those flipper things in the meantime, but it’s kind of awkward and I’m paranoid I’ll break it or lose it. Still, I’d rather be cautious and wait than risk messing it up and having to start over (and pay again). I just wish insurance covered more of this stuff… it feels like you have to choose between your wallet and your smile. If I could guarantee it’d work right away, maybe I’d go for it, but with my luck, I’d be the one who needs a redo.

Waiting felt like torture for me too, but honestly, I’m glad I did. My dentist explained the risks if the bone doesn’t heal enough and that stuck with me. The flipper is awkward - I was always worried I’d drop it down the sink or something. It’s frustrating how little insurance covers; you’d think something as basic as being able to eat and smile would be a given. Still, I’d rather deal with a few months of inconvenience than risk a failed implant and double the bill later.

That part about insurance really rings true - "

you’d think something as basic as being able to eat and smile would be a given

The risk of rushing the implant always made me pause.

I totally get what you mean about the flipper being annoying - mine never fit quite right, and eating was a pain. Still, I was way more comfortable waiting than stressing over healing with an implant already in. I’ve heard some people swear by immediate placement for convenience, but I just can’t imagine dealing with that extra swelling and risk of infection.

Did your dentist mention any bone loss concerns while you were waiting? Mine brought it up, but honestly, I’d rather have a bit of extra healing time than rush things and regret it later. Curious if anyone’s had issues with the bone shrinking too much during the wait...

Curious if anyone’s had issues with the bone shrinking too much during the wait...

Yeah, my dentist mentioned bone loss too, but honestly, waiting worked out fine for me. I was worried about extra costs if I needed a bone graft, but it didn’t end up being a problem. Did your insurance cover the flipper at all? Mine barely chipped in and that thing was not cheap for what it was.

I’ve seen some patients have noticeable bone loss if there’s a long delay, but honestly, it varies a lot person to person. I had one guy wait almost a year and he barely needed any grafting, while others needed a bit more after just a few months. Insurance and flippers are always tricky - sometimes it feels like they cover the bare minimum and call it a day.

I’ve seen some patients have noticeable bone loss if there’s a long delay, but honestly, it varies a lot person to person.

That’s interesting, because I’ve actually read a bit about “immediate” vs. “delayed” implants and the data seems a little all over the place. From what I understand, immediate placement can be great for preserving bone, but it’s not always possible if there’s infection or other complications. On the flip side, waiting sometimes lets things heal more predictably, even though there’s that risk of bone loss.

I waited about six months after my extraction before getting the implant. My oral surgeon was pretty adamant about letting everything settle, partly because my extraction was messy. I did lose a little bone, but nothing major - didn’t need grafting. I kind of liked having the extra time to save up for the out-of-pocket costs, since, like you said,

Insurance and flippers are always tricky - sometimes it feels like they cover the bare minimum and call it a day.

If you’re a techie like me and tend to research everything, it’s almost frustrating how much seems to depend on luck and individual healing. There’s no “one-size-fits-all” answer, which honestly makes the whole process feel like a bit of a gamble.