With the traditional approach, an implant is left to bond with the bone for a few months before any tooth goes on it. Immediate loading skips that wait: a temporary tooth or bridge is attached on the same day the implant is placed, which is where the "teeth in a day" label comes from. For well-chosen patients the results in trials have been similar to waiting, but the decision is made in the chair, based on how firmly each implant grips the bone at the moment it goes in.
How it differs from the standard timeline
In conventional loading, implants are usually kept free of any biting load for some months while the bone grows onto them. A 2013 Cochrane review by Esposito and colleagues describes that traditional healing period as 3 to 8 months. Immediate loading, defined in that review as within one week of placement, fits a temporary tooth or bridge straight away so there is no gap and no removable plate in the meantime.
The trade-off is that the implant starts carrying some load before it has fully integrated. It therefore needs to be held so firmly that it does not shift while healing. Our guide to implant costs and stages sets out the standard timeline for comparison.
What trials show
The Cochrane review pooled 26 randomised trials with 2,120 implants. Across all trials the average implant failure rate in the first year was 2.5%. Comparing immediate with conventional loading, it found no clear evidence of a difference in implant or bridge failure in the first year, and a very small difference in bone levels that was unlikely to matter clinically. The authors noted that many of the trials had a high or unclear risk of bias and called for better-designed studies.
In other words, immediate loading can work as well as waiting in selected patients. It does not mean everyone is suitable, and the same review stressed the need for more research.
Grip on the day decides it
Primary stability is how firmly the implant is anchored in the bone at the moment it is placed, before any healing has happened. It is often measured by the twisting force (torque) needed to seat the implant, or by a small device that gives a stability reading. A 2026 narrative review by Kishen and colleagues in the Saudi Dental Journal described an insertion torque of about 35 to 45 Ncm, or a stability reading above 70, as the usual minimum for immediate loading.
If an implant reaches that level, a temporary tooth can be attached with little risk of it moving. Too much movement during healing can stop the bone bonding to the implant, which is why a dentist will choose to wait when stability is borderline. That choice is made at the time of surgery, so it is worth knowing in advance that the plan may change on the day.
Full-arch treatment is where it is used most
Immediate loading is common in full-arch treatment, where several implants are joined by one bridge on the day of surgery. Because the bridge splints the implants together, it spreads the biting load between them and adds stability. That is how many people having full-arch implants leave on the day with fixed temporary teeth rather than a denture.
For single teeth, immediate loading is used more selectively. The temporary crown is usually shaped so it does not take heavy biting contact while the implant heals.
Who tends to suit it, and who should wait
Good candidates usually have enough bone of reasonable density, healthy gums and implants that reach strong stability at placement. A thorough examination and a 3D X-ray come first.
Waiting is usually safer for people with soft or thin bone, gum disease that is not yet under control, heavy clenching or grinding, or heavy smoking, because these reduce the chance of an implant integrating under early load. Being advised to wait is not a failure. It is the choice that protects the long-term result.
What the process involves
- Planning: examination, 3D X-ray and scans to assess the bone and plan implant positions.
- Surgery: the implants are placed and their stability measured. If it is high enough, a temporary tooth or bridge is fitted the same day.
- Healing: the temporary is worn for several months while the implants integrate, with a softer diet and care not to bite hard on it.
- Final teeth: once healing is confirmed, the permanent crown or bridge is made and fitted.
If an implant or temporary feels loose at any stage, have it checked promptly. Our guide to a loose implant explains the possible causes.
Cost compared with the staged approach
For a single tooth, typical Australian market ranges for an implant with its crown are about $4,000 to $7,000; this is a general market figure, not a Lumi fee. Immediate loading does not necessarily cost more than the staged approach, though the total depends on the number of implants, any grafting and the materials used. Full-arch treatment is a larger investment, and you will usually receive a written treatment plan with costs after your examination, often by email. Any current offers are on our current deals page.
What patients ask about same-day implants
Is the same-day tooth the final one?
Usually not. It is a temporary. The permanent crown or bridge is fitted once the implant has integrated, generally a few months later.
Does it hurt more than a standard implant?
The surgery is similar and is done under local anaesthetic. Relative analgesia (happy gas), inhaled pain relief, oral sedation and IV sedation are available at Lumi. Fitting the temporary adds time on the day but is not usually more uncomfortable.
How do I look after a same-day implant?
Eat softer foods, avoid biting hard on the temporary and keep the area very clean. You will be given specific instructions for your case.
Find out if same-day teeth suit you
Whether immediate loading is right for you depends on your bone and on how the implants seat on the day. A consultation with a 3D X-ray is the place to start. Read about full-arch implants at Lumi for same-day teeth across a whole jaw, our article on how long implants last, or book an implant consultation at our Melrose Park practice.
Sources
- Esposito and colleagues, Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews 2013: Interventions for replacing missing teeth, different times for loading dental implants
- Kishen and colleagues, Saudi Dental Journal 2026: Clinical and biomechanical determinants of immediate, early, progressive and delayed implant loading
This article is general information and not a substitute for personal advice from a dentist.
