How soon after a tooth is extracted should it be replaced with an implant?

Obviously,if its front tooth, some sort of replacement has to be made right away. The first replacement is usually temporary in nature, either a temporary bridge or a temporary one tooth denture(nesbit or flipper). If it is a back tooth that is extracted often initially no replacement is required immediately post extraction.

These days many extractions receive bone grafting at the time of the the procedure. This grafting material is intended to stimulate bone re-growth and will tend to preserve the bone in the socket afterwards.

Implant replacement teeth are the most ideal type of replacement assuming a patient is a good candidate for one. Although some extraction sites receive immediate implants on the day of an extraction, most do not. Most of the specialists that I refer to seem to feel that the ideal time for placement after an extraction with bone grafting is three to four months. They feel that after three months the bone grafting material is being actively replaced with new bone and this 'active new bone' is ideal to receive an implant.

Of course implants can and do successfully get placed after more time has elapsed, but after an extraction, the bone tends to continue resorbing for the first year or two. The result of waiting too long can be a site that becomes too narrow to place an ideal sized implant.