[Immediate placement of an implant after extraction]

The immediate placement of an implant is not only possible but in some clinical situations advisable, with each case individually assessed and the time of placement determined by the clinician. In such cases, the immediate implant placement provides a considerable number of advantages over the traditionally established placement. When using the traditional procedure, a 3 to 6-month healing period is necessary before an implant can be placed and another 3 to 6 months before prosthodontic restoration. An immediate placement combines postextraction healing phase with the integration phase, reducing the total healing period by one-half. An immediate placement prevents the bone resorption in the alveolar crest, thereby eliminating an aesthelic problem, and it permits the bone to regenerate in the alveolar space around the implant. It permits a precise placement with better resistance to occlusal and lateral forces. It avoids drilling of the cortical bone and conserves good tissue thickness and the attached gingiva, thereby providing a better aesthetic result. Finally, by eliminating the waiting period, it provides a significant psychological and functional advantage. In recent years, numerous dental surgeons have placed implants immediately after the extraction, and the technique has now become a well accepted restorative technique.