Same-day dental implants offer the prospect of leaving a dental appointment with a functioning tooth or a complete set of teeth on the same day as surgery. For patients who have lived with gaps or removable dentures, this can be a genuinely life-changing prospect. But same-day implants are not suitable for every patient or every situation. At Fitzroy Dental Practice in Fitzrovia, our implant team carries out a thorough assessment before recommending immediate loading, and this guide explains the clinical criteria that determine whether you qualify.
What are same-day dental implants, and how do they work?
Same-day dental implants use a technique called immediate loading: the dental surgeon places the titanium implant post into the jawbone and attaches a provisional crown or prosthesis during the same appointment, rather than waiting three to six months for the implant to integrate with the bone before adding any teeth.
The provisional restoration provides immediate function and aesthetics, but it is designed to be non-load-bearing in the critical early weeks, meaning it restores appearance and basic function without placing the full forces of normal chewing on the integrating implant. The final permanent crown or prosthesis replaces it once osseointegration is confirmed, typically three to six months later.
Is the same-day tooth the permanent implant crown, or a temporary?
The same-day restoration is a provisional (temporary) crown or prosthesis, not the final permanent version. It looks natural and functions well enough for normal social activities and eating soft foods, but it is an interim solution whilst the implant integrates with the bone beneath. Once integration is confirmed, the permanent crown fabricated to the highest aesthetic and functional standard replaces it.
Can same-day implants replace multiple teeth as well as a single tooth?
Yes. Same-day implant technology applies to both single-tooth and full-arch scenarios. The most well-known full-arch applications are All-on-4 and All-on-6, where four or six implants are placed in a single surgical session immediately to support a full arch of provisional teeth. Patients who arrive without functioning teeth leave the same day with a complete set.
Who is eligible for same-day dental implants?
Not every patient who wants same-day implants qualifies for them, and a reputable implant surgeon will tell you honestly if immediate loading is not appropriate in your case. The primary eligibility factors are:
- Sufficient bone volume and density at the implant site, the implant must achieve high primary stability at placement
- Absence of active infection at the extraction or implant site
- Good general medical health, certain conditions (uncontrolled diabetes, bisphosphonate therapy, immunosuppression) affect healing and may contraindicate immediate loading
- Non-smoking or light smoking significantly impairs implant osseointegration and reduces immediate loading success rates
- A bite pattern that allows the provisional restoration to be designed in a way that protects the integrating implant from excessive load
The key intraoperative criterion is primary stability, the immediate mechanical fixation of the implant in the bone at placement. This is measured during surgery; if stability is insufficient, the surgeon proceeds with conventional delayed loading rather than immediate, even if pre-surgical assessment suggested same-day loading was likely appropriate.
Does smoking rule me out for same-day dental implants?
Smoking is a significant risk factor for implant failure in general, and particularly for immediate loading, where the integration period requires optimal healing conditions. Heavy smoking typically contraindicates same-day loading. Light smokers may be considered on a case-by-case basis. Your implant surgeon at Fitzroy will give you an honest assessment based on your specific smoking history and overall bone health, not a blanket policy.
Can I have a same-day implant if my tooth needs extracting first?
Yes, in selected cases. Same-day extraction and implant placement (technically called “immediate implant placement”) is one of the most common scenarios for single-tooth same-day treatment. The surgeon extracts the failing tooth and places the implant into the fresh socket during the same appointment. Success depends on whether the socket is free of infection, the bone walls are intact, and the achieved primary stability is adequate. Your dentist assesses this at the pre-surgical consultation, often with a CBCT scan to evaluate the socket anatomy beforehand.
What happens on the day of same-day implant surgery?
A same-day implant appointment typically takes two to four hours, depending on the number of implants and whether any extractions are needed. The procedure is carried out under local anaesthetic; IV sedation is available for anxious patients. The surgeon places the implant(s), confirms adequate primary stability, and attaches the provisional crown or prosthesis before you leave.
For single-tooth cases, you leave with a natural-looking provisional crown on the implant. For full-arch cases (All-on-4 or All-on-6), you leave with a complete set of provisional teeth. In both scenarios, the restorations are functional from day one, but dietary restrictions apply during the healing phase.
Is same-day implant surgery painful, and will I need sedation?
Under effective local anaesthetic, most patients experience pressure and movement but not pain during surgery. Post-operative discomfort managed with ibuprofen and paracetamol typically peaks in the first 24–48 hours and improves steadily. Most patients find the experience considerably more comfortable than they anticipated. Sedation is available at Fitzroy for patients who prefer it and is worth discussing at your consultation.
What restrictions apply after same-day implant surgery?
The provisional restoration is designed to function socially from day one, but the underlying implant is still integrating. For the first six to eight weeks, most protocols recommend avoiding hard, crunchy, or chewy foods that place significant biting force directly through the implant site. Smoking significantly impairs healing and reduces the success rate of same-day implants; abstaining for at least the first few weeks after surgery is strongly advised.
Can same-day implants replace a full arch of teeth?
Yes, and this is where same-day implant technology has had its most significant clinical impact. All-on-4 and All-on-6 with immediate loading allow a patient who arrives with failing or missing teeth to leave the same day with a full, fixed provisional arch. This application is clinically validated with extensive long-term outcome data, provided patients meet the eligibility criteria and the surgery achieves the required primary stability.
The same-day full arch is particularly transformative for patients who have been living with removable full dentures and experience the instability and dietary restrictions that come with them. Leaving with fixed, immediately functioning teeth changes daily life from the first day.
Is the same-day full-arch prosthesis the final permanent teeth?
No. The same-day full arch is a provisional prosthesis, engineered to function well during the osseointegration period without overloading the integrating implants. Once the implants have fully integrated, typically at three to six months, the provisional is replaced with the final permanent prosthesis, which is fabricated to a higher aesthetic and structural standard and designed for long-term use.
What happens if I need bone grafting? Can I still have same-day implants?
Bone grafting and same-day implant placement can sometimes occur in the same surgical session, but this depends on the scale of the graft required. Minor socket preservation grafts placed at the time of extraction are compatible with immediate implant placement in some cases. Larger augmentation procedures, such as sinus lifts and block grafts, generally require a healing period before implant placement and therefore preclude same-day loading in those areas. Your implant surgeon determines the appropriate sequence at your consultation.
How much do same-day dental implants cost in London?
Same-day single implants typically carry a modest premium over conventional implants, reflecting the additional clinical planning, CBCT imaging, and provisional crown involved. In London, a same-day single implant typically costs £1,800–£2,800 depending on the practice and clinical complexity. Full-arch same-day treatment (All-on-4 or All-on-6) ranges from £10,000 to £25,000+ per arch at quality private practices.
At Fitzroy Dental Practice, we provide fully itemised written estimates following your assessment, so you know exactly what each stage involves before committing.
Does Fitzroy offer same-day implant treatment, and how do I find out if I qualify?
Yes. Fitzroy offers same-day implant treatment for both single-tooth and full-arch cases where patients meet the clinical criteria. The starting point is a consultation with our implant team, which includes a clinical examination and CBCT imaging to assess bone volume and anatomy. Following this, we can confirm whether immediate loading is suitable for your situation and outline a treatment plan with full costs.
What happens at the initial same-day implant consultation at Fitzroy?
Your consultation includes a thorough clinical examination, a review of your dental and medical history, and a CBCT scan for three-dimensional bone assessment. You leave the appointment with a clear diagnosis, a personalised treatment plan, a written fee estimate, and a frank discussion of whether same-day loading is appropriate or whether a conventional protocol would give you a better long-term outcome.
To book a same-day implant consultation at Fitzroy Dental Practice, find us at 14 Fitzroy Square, Fitzrovia, London W1T 6AH. Call us on 020 7387 3317 or book online.
