The promise of “implant in one day”: reality or hype?

Introduction**

In recent years, there has been widespread advertising of “implants in one day” or “new teeth in one session” that promise patients can have an implanted tooth ready for use in less than 24 hours. This claim often sounds appealing, especially to patients looking for a quick solution to replace their missing teeth. But is this really possible? In this article, we examine the reality behind these promises and the technical and medical challenges associated with it.

standard dental implant process

The standard dental implant process involves several steps that are completed over several months. The main steps are as follows:

1. Implant base planting: First, the implant base (a titanium screw) is implanted in the jaw bone.
2. Duration for fusion (osteointegration): In this stage, the jawbone must naturally fuse to the base of the implant, which process usually takes between 3 and 6 months.
3. Placing the abutment and dental crown: After ensuring the complete fusion of the implant to the bone, the artificial dental crown is connected to the abutment (the part that is placed on the implant).

This process takes time to ensure that the implant is firmly and permanently seated in the jaw. Rushing these steps can lead to treatment failure or the need for corrective surgeries.

The promise of implants in one day: what is offered?

Some clinics promise to install dental implants and temporary crowns in one day. In this method:

• Implant base is implanted in the jawbone on the same day.

temporary crown is immediately installed on the implant so that the patient can immediately restore the appearance of his teeth.

However, it should be emphasized that the temporary crown is often limited in terms of functionality and strength, and its use as a permanent tooth is not recommended until the osseointegration process is complete.

Technical and medical challenges

Implementation of the “implant in one day” method faces several challenges that must be considered:

1. The risk of the implant not fusing to the bone (osteointegration): The jaw bone needs time to fuse to the titanium base of the implant. If this process is not completed correctly, the risk of implant failure increases. In the one-day implant method, a lot of pressure is applied to the base of the implant, which may prevent it from being properly welded to the bone.
2. Clinical conditions of the patient: This method is not suitable for all patients. Patients who do not have sufficient jaw bone density or have underlying diseases such as diabetes or osteoporosis may need more time for healing and the osseointegration process.
3. Immediate or standard implants: In immediate implants, due to the quick installation of the temporary crown, it is possible that the implant will not be in the correct position and this can affect the final result. While in the standard method, with more patience, accuracy and final strength increase.

Dentist’s role in one-day implant

The dentist plays an important role in this process, especially in the construction of temporary and permanent crowns. One of the main challenges of the dentist is to design and manufacture crowns that are both aesthetically and functionally optimal, and at the same time do not put too much pressure on the implant base. Temporary crowns should be designed to put less pressure on the abutment to give the implant enough time to fuse.

Conclusion

Although the “implant in one day” advertising may be attractive, this method is not suitable for all patients and has serious limitations. The use of temporary crowns and attention to the patient’s clinical conditions are among the factors that affect the success or failure of this method. Standard implant treatment is still recommended as a safer and more stable method, although it requires more time.

Scientific sources:

1. Chen, S., & Buser, D. (2009). “Implant placement post-extraction in esthetic single tooth sites: when immediate, when early, when late?” *Periodontology 2000*, 50(1), 41-50. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1600-0757.2008.00277.x  

2. Esposito, M., et al. (2013). “Interventions for replacing missing teeth: different times for loading dental implants.” *Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews*, (3), CD003878. https://doi.org/10.1002/14651858.CD003878.pub5  

3. Buser, D., et al. (2017). “12-Year Survival and Late Complications of Implants with a Sandblasted and Acid-Etched Surface: Results from a Prospective Long-Term Follow-Up Study.” *Clinical Implant Dentistry and Related Research*, 19(1), 1-9. https://doi.org/10.1111/cid.12423