Temporary Dental Implants – Their Purpose

Temporary dental implants – What they are and when they’re used

Dental implants are an extraordinary treatment option. However, one perceived downside is that they’re not an instant or even an immediate solution. Once we’ve placed the implant, we must wait a few months for it to fuse with the bone and heal before we can load your fake tooth.Missing teeth can greatly affect a patient’s self-confidence, so we understand that being left with a gap for a few more months is not what you want to hear. So, say hello to temporary dental implants, which can fill the gap while you wait.Book a consultation to see if we can use them in your case. We're in London.

What are temporary dental implants?

• Worn for 3-6 months
• Temporary restorations are comfortable
• Requires a slight tweak of eating habits

A temporary dental implant will fill the gap caused by a missing tooth while you wait for your permanent restoration.The temporary prosthesis will be placed instead of the tooth while we wait for your implant to heal. However, as it’s not intended to be a permanent feature, it will typically be thinner and constructed from cheaper materials, so patients should try not to compare them to the final tooth.

Types of temporary teeth for implants include:

The options below are typically best suited for front-of-mouth placement and must be removed when sleeping or cleaning.

• Flipper: A partial denture that sits in the mouth like a retainer.
• Temporary bridge: A fake tooth which uses surrounding teeth for support.
• Temporary crown: A fake tooth is attached to the implant the same day as implantation.

Temporary teeth are not designed for long-term use and typically last no longer than six months. However, not every patient will be an immediate candidate for temporary dental implants.

Qualifying for temporary dental implants

Not all patients will be offered a temporary tooth – this is because each case is unique, and they will only be suitable if you have a good volume of bone in your jaw. The only way to assess whether temporary teeth will be applicable in your case is during a consultation with the implant dentist, who can break down what is and what isn’t possible.Good candidates for temporary dental implants (an immediate implant):

• Have existing natural teeth remaining, which can support a fixed solution
• Have a good level of bone in the jaw to support immediate implant tooth placement
• Present uncomplicated and non-complex circumstances like gum disease

If you’re concerned because you have an occasion coming up where you want to hide your missing tooth, we would tell you not to worry. Patients with generally good oral health can often be fitted with temporary solutions without a problem.

When temporary teeth are not typically appropriate

Whether you are suitable for temporary teeth will depend on:

• The number and location of your missing teeth
• The long-term treatment plan focus
• Any health considerations that might hinder healing

Temporary teeth and full mouth implants

In some clinical scenarios, temporary teeth are included in your treatment.For example, edentulous patients with an entire arch of missing teeth choosing to replace them with immediately loaded solutions like All-on-4 receive temporary teeth the same day as placement.As these are unique implant systems, patients won’t have to wait to have their teeth temporarily loaded. However, it won’t be their final set, typically placed three months later.

Continuing to wear your dentures in full-mouth cases

Other types of full-arch rehabilitation treatments, like implant-retained dentures, do not offer immediate-loading (temporary teeth). In clinical scenarios like this, patients can continue to wear their existing dentures while waiting for their implants to heal. Our dentists typically recommend this so you can maintain functionality, and flexible dentures might be best to aid the healing period.