Immediate vs. delayed implant placement: what changes after a tooth is pulled

If a tooth has to come out, the implant can go in the same day or later on. Here's how the two options differ, and what each one means if you're trying to keep implant costs down around Turlock and Stanislaus County.

Medically reviewed by Dr. Broneil Ishaya, DDS · Nov 2026 · Written by Dr. Ishaya

What "immediate" really means

Immediate placement is pretty much what it sounds like. We take the tooth out and put the implant into the same socket at the same visit.

It isn't always possible though. The area can't have a bad infection, and there has to be enough solid bone around the socket to hold the implant steady while it heals.

And it doesn't always mean you leave with a finished tooth. A lot of the time you go home with a temporary, or with nothing on the implant yet, while the bone bonds to it.

What "delayed" means

With delayed placement, we pull the tooth and let the spot heal first. Sometimes we put a bone graft into the socket right away so the bone keeps its shape. The implant goes in a few months later, once things have settled.

It takes longer. But it's often the safer choice when there's infection, bone loss or thin gums. Some people also just like taking it one step at a time.

Which one costs less?

We get asked this alot. The honest answer is that it depends on your mouth, not on which option sounds cheaper.

Immediate placement can mean fewer surgery visits, since the tooth removal and the implant happen together. Delayed placement can add a visit, and sometimes a graft. But if an implant goes into a spot that wasn't ready and it doesn't heal right, fixing it later usually costs more than doing it the slower way the first time.

So be a little careful with any low-cost quote that promises a same-day implant before anyone has looked at a 3D scan of your bone.

How we decide in Turlock

Dr. Broneil Ishaya plans each implant case on a 3D CT scan. It shows the bone around the tooth, signs of infection, and where the nerves and sinus sit. From there he can tell you if same-day placement makes sense or if waiting is smarter.

He completed an implant fellowship with the Misch Resnik Institute and uses guided, 3D-planned surgery when it fits the case. Oral sedation and nitrous oxide are available too, which helps if the idea of a tooth coming out makes you nervous.

Your consultation is free, it includes the 3D scan. For more ways to keep the total down, see affordable dental implants in Turlock. For current limited-time offers and their terms, check our promotions page.

Key facts

• Immediate placement puts the implant in the same day the tooth comes out
• Delayed placement lets the area heal first, sometimes with a bone graft
• Infection, bone and gum health decide which option fits
• A 3D scan at your free consultation helps show what makes sense for you