Same-Day Dental Implants
 Same-day dental implants let you walk out with a new tooth the same day your implant is placed, and our oral surgeons offer them in Pullman, WA and Lewiston, ID.
At Oral & Facial Surgery, our board-certified oral and maxillofacial surgeons use detailed 3D planning to place an implant and attach a temporary tooth in a single visit for the right candidates.
Sometimes called teeth in an hour, the same-day approach removes the long wait between losing a tooth and seeing a replacement. It is one branch of implant care we provide, and our main page on dental implants explains how implant treatment works overall.
The tooth you receive that day is a temporary restoration that protects the implant while it fuses to your bone. Your permanent restoration comes later, once healing is complete, so you are never left without a tooth in the meantime.
On This Page
What Are Same-Day Dental Implants?
 A dental implant is a small titanium post that replaces the root of a missing tooth and anchors a replacement on top. With same-day implants, your surgeon places that post and attaches a temporary tooth during the same appointment, rather than asking you to wait months with a gap.
This is possible because of careful planning. Using a cone beam CT scan, your surgeon maps the bone and nerves in advance and decides whether your case supports immediate placement, which depends largely on how much healthy bone is available to hold the implant securely.
Same-Day Implants vs Traditional Implants
With traditional implants, the post is placed and then left to heal for several months before any tooth is attached. Same-day implants compress the front end of that timeline by attaching a temporary tooth right away. The healing underneath is similar, but you are not living with a visible gap while the implant integrates.
Are You a Candidate?
Not everyone is a candidate for immediate placement, and the consultation is where we find out. Same-day implants tend to work well when:
- You have enough healthy jawbone – the implant needs solid bone to stay stable the moment it is placed.
- Your gums are healthy – active gum infection has to be controlled first.
- You are replacing a failing or missing tooth – including a tooth that needs removal before placement.
- Your overall health supports healing – certain conditions affect how predictably an implant integrates.
If you do not have enough bone, bone grafting can often build up the site first, which may shift the timeline but still leads to a strong result.
Your Implant Surgeons
Same-day placement leaves no room for guesswork, so it matters that an experienced surgeon places your implant. Both of our doctors are board-certified oral and maxillofacial surgeons, and together they have placed more than ten thousand dental implants.
Dr. Stephen W. Holm is a Diplomate of the American Board of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery and served as chief resident during his residency at Carle Foundation Hospital, with more on Dr. Holm’s bio. Dr. Sherdon W. Cordova completed his oral and maxillofacial surgery residency at the same hospital and served as an oral and maxillofacial surgeon in the United States Air Force, with more on Dr. Cordova’s bio.
Because both surgeons plan every case with 3D imaging and place the implants themselves, the same person who maps your treatment carries it out, which keeps the plan and the surgery aligned.
The Same-Day Implant Process
Same-day implant treatment moves quickly on the day of surgery, but the planning that makes it possible happens beforehand.
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3D planning – your surgeon reviews a cone beam CT scan to map bone, nerves, and the exact position for each implant before you arrive.
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Removing the tooth if needed – when a failing tooth is still in place, we handle the tooth extraction and the implant placement in the same sitting.
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Placing the implant – your surgeon positions the titanium post into the prepared bone, guided by the plan built from your scan.
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Attaching the temporary tooth – once the implant is stable enough, we attach a temporary restoration the same day, so you leave with a tooth in place.
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Healing and integration – over the following months the implant fuses with your bone, and we monitor your progress along the way.
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Your final restoration – after healing is complete, we replace the temporary with your permanent crown, bridge, or other restoration. |
Most patients are comfortable with local anesthesia, though IV sedation is available if you would rather be more relaxed for the surgery.
The Benefits of Same-Day Dental Implants
 The most obvious benefit is that you do not leave with a gap. Because your surgeon plans the placement in advance from your 3D scan, the implant and a temporary tooth can go in during one appointment, which protects how you look and lets you get back to normal life without a long wait.
Same-day placement also tends to mean fewer separate surgical appointments, since the extraction, implant, and temporary tooth happen together. For many patients that means one recovery period instead of several.
Because our surgeons place the implant promptly rather than leaving the socket empty, the post can begin doing the job the natural root used to do, which helps preserve the surrounding bone and gum shape. The result is a replacement that looks and functions like a natural tooth.
Why Choose Our Surgeons for Same-Day Implants
Patients across the Lewiston/Clarkston and Moscow/Pullman regions choose us for same-day implants because every case is planned with detailed 3D imaging and placed by a board-certified oral and maxillofacial surgeon who has placed thousands of implants. Precise planning is what makes immediate placement predictable rather than a gamble.
You also have one team for the whole process, from planning and extraction through placement and your final restoration. If you are missing most or all of your teeth, All-on-4 implants apply the same immediate-function approach on a full-arch scale.
Same-Day Implant Cost and Insurance
Cost matters, and we want to be straight with you about it. The price of same-day implants depends on how many implants you need, whether a tooth must be removed or bone must be built up first, and the type of final restoration, so an in-person evaluation gives the most accurate estimate.
Coverage varies widely between plans, and some help with parts of implant treatment while others do not. You can review the details of your insurance and financing options, and our team will help you understand your benefits and the payment options available for qualifying patients.
Schedule Your Consultation
Ready to find out whether same-day dental implants are right for you? Call our Lewiston, ID office at 208-743-1640 or our Pullman, WA office at 509-330-5020 to schedule. You can also request an appointment online whenever it suits you. Our Lewiston office is at 444 Thain Rd, Lewiston, ID 83501. Our Pullman office is at 1256 Bishop Blvd Suite I, Pullman, WA 99163. For questions before you book, our Contact page is the quickest way to reach us.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I really get a tooth the same day?
Yes, for the right candidates. When you have enough healthy bone to hold an implant securely, your surgeon can place it and attach a temporary tooth in the same visit. The consultation and 3D scan confirm whether your case qualifies.
Is the same-day tooth my permanent one?
No. The tooth placed on surgery day is a temporary restoration that protects the implant while it fuses to the bone. We fit your permanent crown or bridge later, after healing, and match it to your bite and the teeth around it.
What if I do not have enough bone?
Often, yes. Bone grafting rebuilds the site so it can support an implant, and minor grafting is sometimes done at the same appointment as the placement. Larger grafts heal first, which can add a few months before the implant goes in.
Does it hurt to get a same-day implant?
Most patients are comfortable with local anesthesia and report pressure rather than pain during placement. If you would rather be more relaxed, sedation is available, and the soreness afterward is usually manageable with the aftercare we provide.
How long do dental implants last?
With good care, dental implants are built to last for decades, and many last a lifetime. The implant post itself is very durable, while the restoration on top may eventually need replacement from normal wear, much like any dental work.
What happens if a same-day implant fails?
Early implant failure is uncommon, but if an implant does not integrate, your surgeon removes it, lets the site heal, and can often place a new one later. We monitor your healing closely so any problem is caught early.
Are same-day implants the same as All-on-4?
Not quite. Same-day implants often replace one or a few teeth, while All-on-4 implants replace a full arch using four implants that support a complete set of teeth. Both can offer same-day function, and we help you choose based on how many teeth you are replacing.
Does insurance cover same-day implants?
Coverage varies by plan, and some policies help with parts of implant treatment while others exclude it. Before you commit, our team can give you a written estimate and check your specific benefits, and our insurance and financing options cover payment plans that spread the cost. |
