You may have come across dental ads screaming “Teeth in a day!!!” So what are “Teeth in a day” procedures? Is it really possible to get teeth in a day from your local dentist?

“Teeth in a day” refers to the implant procedure that deals with placing immediate-loading implants. Immediate-loading implants are dental implants on which the crown is placed promptly after fixing the crown. That means you can start chewing normally on the implant within a few days. Normally dental implants are placed within the jaw bone and are allowed to fuse with the surrounding bone in a process called osseointergration. This procedure, called “delayed loading,” normally takes about three to six months. Patients receive a crown only after integration is complete. Most patients are not willing to wait for their new teeth. But until recently, most dentists were not willing to place immediate-loading implants in fear of failure, because studies at the time showed a dismal success rate for that type of implants.

But with better implant materials and improved surgical techniques, the implants are far more successful. The overall success rate is high, and with a healthy patient with no systemic or dental contraindications, results will be good. Now the entire jaw is scanned with 3-D CT to accurately assess the level of remaining bone, and, using computer software and surgical stents, the implant is guided in with high precision. With 3D imaging and CAD/CAM technology, the crown can be fabricated beforehand and placed along with the implant. If the surrounding bone and mucosa is healthy, the chance of success is high.

Immediate-loading implants can be placed immediately after extracting a decayed tooth. The socket of the tooth is widened slightly to allow placement of the implant. They cannot be placed, however, if the tooth was severely abscessed or the gum is unhealthy. These implants are not advised for people with uncontrolled diabetes or other systemic conditions that contraindicate a surgery. Sometimes the patient will have to return for minor adjustments to the crown as, even with extreme caution and skill by your local dentist, some corrections maybe needed. This procedure requires greater skill on the part of you local dentist/implantologist than other implant procedures, therefore, it will cost al little more.

Find out if your local dentist is comfortable with this procedure. Normally  two visits are required, even if they are called ‘teeth in a day.’ The first visit usually consists of taking a case history and a detailed examination, followed by a couple of tests to check your health status. Even though the next visit may seem cumbersome, most patients experience little or no pain, and with increased success rates the procedure is becoming increasingly popular.