Is there a visible gap while the implant heals?
In most cases not, especially not where the gap would show when you smile. According to Cleveland Clinic, if the implant is near the front of the mouth your dentist makes a temporary tooth for you to wear until you heal; if it is near the back, you may not need one. Mayo Clinic describes a type of partial, temporary denture that can be placed for appearance if needed, and which you can remove for cleaning and while you sleep.
The reason for the temporary tooth is the healing period: the implant has to bond with the bone before it may be loaded. The temporary is therefore designed so that it closes the gap without resting on the implant.
This guide covers temporary teeth for one or a few missing teeth. The interim solution for a whole jaw, a temporary bridge or full denture on four or six implants, is a separate topic; for that, read our guide to temporary teeth with full-arch implants.
Which temporary teeth are there for one or a few teeth?
There are four basic options, which differ in what they hold on to and whether they touch the implant. Based on the technique tip in Dental Update, the patient information from Bristol Dental School and the consensus statements of the International Team for Implantology (ITI), they compare as follows:
| Temporary | How does it hold? | Advantages | What to watch |
|---|---|---|---|
| Removable temporary (interim denture) | Rests on gum and palate, taken out | Implant site easy to reach at check-ups; several gaps with one piece | Can press on the wound; plaque collects underneath |
| Clear retainer with a tooth built in | Transparent retainer over the teeth with an artificial tooth at the gap | Supported by the teeth, does not load the implant | Taken out for eating and sleeping |
| Bonded bridge on the neighbouring teeth | A wing is bonded to the back of the neighbouring tooth | Fixed, does not load the implant; neighbouring teeth usually not drilled | Can come off; has to be removed and re-bonded at check-ups |
| Temporary crown on the implant | Attached directly to the implant | Fixed, feels almost like your own tooth | Only in suitable conditions; no contact with the opposing teeth |
Which solution fits is decided at the examination: by the number and position of the missing teeth, the condition of the neighbouring teeth and the stability of the implant at placement.
How does a removable temporary work?
A removable temporary is a small denture that fills the gap and can be taken out. Leeds Teaching Hospitals describes a removable partial denture fitted immediately after teeth are extracted, replacing the missing teeth until the implants are ready to use.
The critical point is that the denture rests on the surgical area. According to the technique tip in Dental Update, plaque can collect beneath it, and pressure on an implant that has not yet healed can raise the risk of losing it. Wearing it straight after surgery is therefore restricted: according to Guy’s and St Thomas’ NHS Foundation Trust, denture wearers might not be able to wear their denture for up to two weeks after implant treatment. When you may put the denture in, and whether it presses on the implant, is decided by your dentist.
What is a clear retainer with a tooth built in?
Here a tooth-coloured artificial tooth is built into a thin, transparent retainer that fits over the teeth, at the position of the gap. According to Dental Update, this solution is derived from the retainers worn after orthodontic treatment; it transfers all chewing force to the teeth and rules out early loading of the implant. The underside of the artificial tooth can be shaped so that it does not press on the healing gum.
According to the same source, the retainer is taken out for eating and sleeping and therefore serves appearance above all. What else determines the look of a front-tooth implant is covered in our guide to dental implants for front teeth.
Who is the bonded bridge suitable for?
If a single tooth is missing and the neighbouring tooth is healthy, the artificial tooth can be bonded to its back via a wing. According to the patient information from Bristol Dental School, resin-bonded bridges hold by means of a wing bonded to the neighbouring tooth, usually without drilling the natural teeth. The same source generally recommends them for a single gap, considers a removable denture more suitable where several teeth are missing, and requires healthy supporting teeth. The drawback is that the bridge has to be removed and re-bonded at every check-up.
Can the temporary crown go straight onto the implant?
In suitable cases yes, but not on every implant. According to the 2018 ITI consensus statement, temporary crowns on implants placed immediately after extraction can give good results, but the evidence is limited. The statement recommends adjusting such temporaries so that they have no contact with the opposing teeth when biting or moving the jaw. In other words, an immediate temporary tooth does not mean the implant is loaded immediately.
Under which conditions an implant can carry a tooth shortly after placement, and why primary stability matters for that, is explained in our guide to same-day dental implants.
Why does the temporary matter more at the front than at the back?
At the front appearance comes first; at the back a temporary is not always needed. According to Cleveland Clinic, the temporary prevents a visible gap during healing for front implants, while for back implants it can be dispensed with.
Regardless of position, during healing: do not bite anything hard on the implant side and chew on the other side where possible. Specific recommendations are in our guide to eating after dental implant surgery.
What does this mean for the time between your two trips?
For international patients the temporary tooth accompanies the months between the first trip, when the implant is placed, and the second, when the final crown is fitted. Before your flight home, clarify:
- How is my temporary attached, and may I take it out myself?
- What can I eat with it, and what not?
- How do I clean it and the area beneath it?
- What do I do if it comes loose or breaks?
Send photos and questions on WhatsApp to +90 532 363 49 54. If a bonded bridge comes off or a temporary breaks, a dentist near you can re-fit or repair it; take the treatment summary you received when you left. How follow-up is organised once you are home is on our aftercare and follow-up page.
When should you get in touch about the temporary?
If the temporary moves, breaks or you feel it pressing on the implant site, do not wait for the next check-up. As the technique tip in Dental Update stresses, loading before healing is complete can jeopardise the bonding with the bone. Get in touch if:
- the removable denture or retainer presses on the implant site or rubs the gum sore
- the bonded bridge comes loose or wobbles
- the temporary crown on the implant wobbles, breaks or is the first thing to touch when you bite
- swelling, bleeding or pain at the implant site increases
How do we plan the temporary tooth at Rönesans?
At our clinic a temporary tooth is fitted during the implant healing period depending on the case. Which solution suits you is decided at the examination: by the position and number of missing teeth, the condition of the neighbouring teeth and the CBCT scan taken at our clinic. If a temporary is planned, it is listed in the written treatment and cost plan you receive before treatment starts.
After the healing period the final crown can be recorded with the intraoral scanner; crowns and dentures are made at our partner laboratory using CAD/CAM. Because you are looked after by the same dentist throughout treatment, you can put questions about the temporary to the same person at check-ups and on WhatsApp. The stages of treatment are on our dental implants page.