What same day actually means
It is a widely advertised phrase and it is widely misunderstood. Same day does not mean a finished tooth in a day. It means you do not walk around with a visible gap while the implant heals.
Two things can happen on the day: the failing tooth is removed and the implant placed into the same socket, and a temporary crown is fitted on top. The biology underneath is unchanged. Bone still needs months to fuse to titanium.
When it works well
- The tooth is failing but there is no active infection around it.
- The socket walls are intact after the tooth comes out.
- There is enough bone beyond the socket for the implant to grip.
- The bite does not load that tooth heavily.
When waiting is the better answer
Infection at the site is the main reason to wait. So is a socket that has broken down, which usually means bone grafting and a few months before the implant. Waiting is not a worse outcome, it is a slower route to the same one, and in the wrong case it is the difference between an implant that lasts and one that fails.
We will tell you which case you are after the scan, not before.
Afterwards
The temporary crown is shaped so it does not take the full force of your bite. Treat it gently, eat on the other side, and expect the usual two or three days of soreness. See recovery and aftercare.