Will I have a gap while my dental implant heals?
Usually not for a front tooth. While an implant integrates with the bone, typically over three to six months, a front gap is normally filled with a temporary: a small removable plate, a clear tray carrying a tooth, a tooth bonded to the neighbours, or occasionally a temporary crown on the implant itself if it is very stable. At Creative Arts in Dubai the temporary is planned together with the implant, because it must not press on the healing site.
Who treats you here Dr. Firas Osman Oral & Maxillofacial Surgeon & Implantologist · Dr. Khalid Saeed Co-founder & Dentist · Dr. Kinan Bonni Dentist
Every dentist’s licence can be checked on the DHA Sheryan medical directory.
Why does an implant need a healing period before the real tooth?
An implant is a titanium post that has to bond with the jaw bone before it can carry chewing forces. This bonding, called osseointegration, typically takes about three to six months, and longer if a bone graft or sinus lift was needed. During that time the implant is held mainly by bone that is still remodelling around it.
The thing that disturbs this process most is repeated movement. A temporary tooth that rocks on the implant, or a plate that presses on the gum over it every time you bite, can transmit exactly the kind of micro-movement the healing bone does not tolerate. That is why the temporary is not an afterthought: it is part of the surgical plan, and its first job is to stay out of the way of the implant. Looking natural is its second job.
The sequence from extraction to final crown is explained step by step in our dental implant process guide. This page covers only the question patients ask most about it: what fills the gap in the meantime.
Temporary tooth while implant heals: the main options compared
The options below run from the simplest to the most involved. Which ones are realistic depends on where the gap is, whether bone was grafted, your bite and how stable the implant was when it went in.
| Option | How it stays in | Good for | Limits |
|---|---|---|---|
| Removable plate with a tooth ("flipper") | A thin acrylic plate held by small clasps or by fit against the palate | Front gaps; quick to make; easy to adjust as the gum changes | Can rest on the healing gum, so it is relieved underneath; covers the palate; not for chewing; may affect speech for a few days |
| Clear tray carrying a tooth | A thin clear tray that clips over the neighbouring teeth, with a tooth set into it | Grafted sites, because it rests on the teeth, not the gum | Taken out to eat; clear plastic covers the other teeth; wears and can crack over months |
| Bonded temporary tooth | A tooth glued to the back of the neighbouring teeth, usually without drilling them | Front gaps where you want a fixed tooth and the bite leaves room | Can come unstuck; needs care with biting into hard foods; not possible with a deep bite |
| Temporary bridge on the neighbouring teeth | Temporary crowns on the teeth either side, joined to a replacement tooth | Only when those teeth already need crowns for their own reasons | Not a reason on its own to drill healthy teeth |
| Temporary crown on the implant | Screwed or cemented onto the new implant, kept out of the bite | Selected front-tooth cases with excellent stability at placement | Never promised in advance; soft diet; a sudden blow can still disturb healing |
| No temporary | Gum heals over the implant or around a small healing cap | Molars and premolars that do not show when you smile | A visible gap if the tooth is further forward |
A general comparison. Your surgeon decides which options are safe for your healing site after the examination and 3D scan.
Can a temporary crown go on the implant the same day it is placed?
Sometimes, but it should never be promised before surgery. Placing a temporary crown on a new implant, called immediate provisionalisation, depends on how firmly the implant locks into the bone when it is inserted, the quality and amount of that bone, whether an infection was present, whether grafting was needed and how you bite. These can only be judged fully during the operation itself.
When it is done for a front tooth, the temporary crown is shaped so that it does not touch the opposing teeth when you bite or slide your jaw. It is there for appearance and to shape the gum, not for chewing. You would be asked to keep to soft food on that side and to avoid biting into anything with the front teeth for the healing period. If the stability on the day is not enough, a removable or bonded temporary is used instead; that is a safety decision, not a failure.
Placing the implant in the same visit as the extraction is a separate question from putting a tooth on it; our guide to immediate implants explains when that is considered.
Will a temporary tooth look natural at work or at a wedding?
At normal speaking distance, a well-made front temporary usually looks like a tooth. What gives it away at close range is shade (temporary materials are slightly more opaque and stain more easily than ceramic), a slightly bulkier shape, and with a removable plate, the clasps or the plastic over the palate. A clear tray adds a shine across the teeth it covers, which shows in flash photographs.
If you have an event in the healing months, tell your dentist at the planning stage. It may change which temporary is chosen, for example a bonded tooth instead of a removable one, or the timing of appointments. Ask, too, what to do if the temporary comes loose before an important day, so you know whether it can be re-bonded quickly. For a front tooth, the planning of the final crown and the gum shape is covered on our front tooth implant page.
Which temporary at which stage? A typical front-tooth timeline
Many patients use more than one temporary during treatment. This is a common pattern for a single front tooth; your own plan may differ.
| Stage | What happens | Temporary usually used |
|---|---|---|
| Extraction (with or without a socket graft) | The tooth is removed; bone may be grafted to limit shrinkage | A removable plate or clear tray, relieved over the socket |
| Healing of the socket | Gum closes and bone fills in, often over some weeks to months | The same temporary, adjusted as the gum shrinks |
| Implant placement | The implant is placed, sometimes with a graft | Removable or bonded temporary; or a temporary crown on the implant if stability allows |
| Integration | Bone bonds to the implant, typically 3–6 months | The temporary is checked so it does not press on the implant |
| Gum shaping | A temporary crown on the implant may be used to shape the gum around the future tooth | Temporary crown on the implant |
| Final crown | A 3D scan is taken and the crown is made by the lab and fitted | None after fitting |
Back teeth are often left without a temporary during these stages, because they do not show and chewing on them would load the implant.
Do I need a temporary tooth for a back tooth implant?
Usually not. A missing molar or second premolar rarely shows when you talk or smile, and a temporary there would have to be chewed on, which is exactly what a healing implant should avoid. Most people chew on the other side for the healing months and find it easier than expected. A small healing cap may be visible through the gum if you look for it.
The exception is a premolar that shows in a wide smile; a removable or clear-tray temporary may be offered for appearance. If you have several back teeth missing on the same side, chewing comfort during healing is part of the plan; see implants for several missing teeth.
Planning an implant and worried about the gap? The temporary is planned with the implant from the first consultation, on a written plan, before anything is booked.
Dental implants in DubaiHow should I look after a temporary tooth during implant healing?
- Do not chew on it. Every type of temporary is for appearance. Cut food small and chew on the other side.
- Removable plates and clear trays: take them out to clean after meals and follow your dentist's advice about wearing them at night. Brush them gently and keep them in their case, never wrapped in a tissue.
- Watch for pressure. If a plate starts to dig into the gum over the implant or leaves a sore spot, stop wearing it and call the clinic so it can be adjusted. The gum changes shape as it heals, so a temporary that fitted in week one may press in week six.
- Bonded temporaries: avoid biting into hard foods with them; if one comes loose, keep it and contact the clinic rather than gluing it at home.
- Keep the area clean. Gentle brushing around the site and any rinse you were given help the gum heal; our implant aftercare guide covers the first weeks.
Pain that increases after the first few days, swelling that spreads, pus or a temporary that suddenly no longer fits are reasons to be seen. The clinic is open daily 10:00–20:00. Facial swelling with fever or difficulty breathing or swallowing needs a hospital emergency department straight away.
Who plans the temporary at Creative Arts?
The temporary is planned by the clinician who plans the implant: Dr. Firas Osman, Oral & Maxillofacial Surgeon & Implantologist, Dr. Khalid Saeed or Dr. Kinan Bonni. They decide from the examination and the 3D CBCT scan whether a graft is needed, which temporaries are safe for your site and whether a temporary crown on the implant could be considered on the day. The written plan shows the temporary as its own item, so you know in advance what you will be wearing at each stage.
If you are weighing whether to replace the tooth at all, or how long you can wait, see what happens if a missing tooth is not replaced. A Maryland bridge is a longer-term bonded option for some front gaps, and it is worth reading the risks of dental implants before you decide.