I get wanting to just fill the gap ASAP, but that extra time really does help with stability and bite.
This is exactly what’s stressing me out right now. My dentist also wants to wait months before doing anything, and I keep worrying the other teeth will shift or something will go wrong in the meantime. But hearing that the healing needs more time than it seems makes me feel a little better—still, I hate the idea of waiting. I keep checking the spot in the mirror and obsessing over it. Maybe patience really is worth it, but it’s so hard when you just want your mouth to feel normal again.
I totally get where you’re coming from—waiting feels endless when all you want is your smile (and bite) back. I had to wait almost six months after an extraction before my implant, and I spent way too much time poking at the gap with my tongue. My dentist promised the bone needed that time to heal and get strong enough, and honestly, it was worth it in the end. The waiting was annoying, but my implant’s been rock solid. I worried about shifting teeth too, but nothing major happened—just try not to stress every time you look in the mirror...easier said than done, I know.
I get why dentists push for waiting, but honestly, I kind of feel like it’s more about their schedule than my mouth sometimes. When I lost a molar, my dentist suggested waiting months, but I started looking into immediate implants—turns out, some clinics offer them if your bone’s okay. I know there’s a risk, but dragging it out means extra appointments (and bills), plus I had to fork out for a flipper in the meantime. If insurance isn’t covering everything, every extra visit adds up. Anyone else feel like the “wait and heal” approach is partly just tradition?
Man, I totally get where you’re coming from. When I had to get a tooth pulled, my dentist gave me the “waiting is best” speech too. Meanwhile, I’m sitting there thinking, “Do you want me to just chew on air for half a year?” The whole flipper thing is such a pain (and not exactly cheap). I do get that sometimes healing helps with implant success, but it does feel like the “wait and see” approach is just the default because it’s easier for them. If your bone’s good and you’re ready to go, why not? I’d be all for skipping a few extra appointments and getting back to eating real food sooner.
My kid had to go through this last year and honestly, the waiting period felt endless. He hated the flipper, wouldn’t wear it half the time, and kept asking when he could just get the “real tooth” back. I get that healing matters, but isn’t it harder for younger folks to deal with all that waiting? I always wonder if the “wait and see” is just a habit for dentists, or if it really changes things long-term. Anyone else feel like it’s tougher on kids?
