The question behind the question
About half the time, immediate implant placement is genuinely on the table. The other half, socket biology has already voted for delayed — and a clinic that says yes anyway is optimising for the booking, not the outcome.
First, the terms
Immediate placement — the implant goes in the same appointment as extraction. Immediate loading — a temporary tooth attached same day, a separate decision with stricter requirements. "Teeth in a day" — usually full-arch treatment with multiple implants sharing load, a different procedure entirely.
The four-factor timing framework
Infection status — active infection is a clear contraindication; the socket is cleaned and left to resolve for eight to sixteen weeks first.
Bone — an ideal socket has all four walls intact with enough bone to anchor the implant (bone grafting can rebuild what is missing). Thin or resorbed walls risk collapse as it heals.
Gum tissue thickness — thick tissue tolerates immediate placement well; thin tissue recedes as it heals, an aesthetic problem in the smile line.
The patient — smoking, poorly controlled diabetes, untreated gum disease, and heavy grinding all narrow the margin. These are screened before any implant pathway.
What each pathway looks like
Immediate (when factors allow): one surgical visit, osseointegration over roughly 12 weeks, then the crown. Total: 3-4 months, one surgery.
Delayed (the default when any factor is against): extraction with socket preservation graft, 8-16 weeks healing, implant placement as a second visit, 12 weeks integration, then the crown. Total: 6-8 months, two surgeries — with meaningfully higher success odds in compromised sockets.
What it costs
A single tooth implant starts from £2,200 including the crown, confirmed in a written plan after CBCT assessment; our implant cost guide explains what the fee covers. Immediate placement doesn't carry a speed premium; delayed placement adds socket preservation grafting where needed, quoted in writing. Finance: 0% APR finance over 12 months via Tabeo, subject to status.
Frequently asked questions
Can I have an implant the same day as extraction? Possibly — around half of cases qualify, decided by CBCT imaging.
Is immediate placement riskier? In well-selected cases, comparable success rates; risk lives in case selection.
How long after extraction can I wait? The 8-16 week window is the planned delayed pathway; waiting years risks bone resorption.
Will I be without a tooth during healing? No — front teeth are never left visibly gapped; a temporary covers the period.
What about "teeth in a day" for a full arch? A different procedure with its own candidacy rules.
The honest next step
Implant consultation at 222 Essex Road, Islington, London N1 3AP. Call 020 8127 4567 or WhatsApp +44 7974 910222.
Reviewed by Dr Vishal Patel · BDS Liverpool · MSc Aesthetic & Restorative Dentistry (Manchester) · GDC 103127. Implant surgery led by our hospital-trained implant dentist, Dr Rishil Patel. Last reviewed 2026-06-05.
