“Teeth in a day” is one of the most searched phrases in implant dentistry, and one of the most misunderstood. Same-day teeth refers to immediate loading: attaching a fixed set of teeth to dental implants on the day they are placed, instead of waiting months for healing. Below are six common myths and what is actually true, followed by five northern Utah practices to consider, starting with Stubbs Dental, which focuses on full-arch implant care.
Which same-day teeth myths should you stop believing?
Myth 1: Are the teeth you leave with your permanent teeth?
Usually not. At most practices, same-day teeth are a temporary acrylic bridge worn for three to six months while the implants heal. A final bridge, often zirconia, is made afterward. A smaller number of practices can deliver final zirconia teeth within about a day for patients who qualify, so ask which version you are being offered.
Myth 2: Do same-day implants fail more often?
Not when the case is selected carefully. Research on immediate loading in full-arch cases has generally found implant survival comparable to the traditional wait-and-load approach, provided the implants have good primary stability. Primary stability means how firmly an implant locks into bone at placement, often measured as insertion torque, with many clinicians looking for roughly 35 Ncm or more before attaching teeth.
Myth 3: Does everyone qualify for teeth in a day?
No. Candidates need enough bone density for the implants to hold firmly on day one, along with stable general health. Heavy smoking, uncontrolled diabetes, and active infection can all delay or rule out immediate loading. Some patients need bone grafting first, which adds months.
Myth 4: Can you eat whatever you want right away?
No. Even though you leave with teeth, the implants are still fusing with the jawbone, a process called osseointegration. Expect a soft-food diet, things like eggs, fish, pasta, and well-cooked vegetables, for roughly the first two to three months. Chewing hard food too early is one of the more common reasons immediate implants fail.
Myth 5: Does the whole process really take one day?
Only the surgery and the first teeth happen in one day. Before that come a consultation, a 3D CBCT scan, digital impressions, and treatment planning. Afterward there are follow-up visits to check healing and adjust the bite, and, in most cases, a later appointment to deliver the final bridge.
Myth 6: Do same-day teeth look like dentures?
They should not. A fixed implant bridge is custom-shaped for your face and does not cover the roof of your mouth the way an upper denture does. How natural it looks depends on the design work and the material, so ask to see photos of the provider’s own completed cases.
Which northern Utah practices can evaluate you for same-day teeth?
- Stubbs Dental
- Valley Implants & Oral Surgery
- Oral & Maxillofacial Surgeons of Utah
- Dr. Greg A. Roberts Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery
- Implant & Restorative Dental Specialists
1. Stubbs Dental
Dr. David Stubbs, DDS, opened Stubbs Dental Implant Center in 2014. He trained at the University of the Pacific Arthur A. Dugoni School of Dentistry and later received post-graduate clinical education as an officer in the U.S. Navy. The practice concentrates on full-arch implant dentistry, including All-on-X and zygomatic implants, and its team includes a board-certified oral and maxillofacial surgeon.
In the first myth above, Stubbs Dental offers a different path than the usual temporary bridge. Eligible patients may receive final zirconia teeth in as little as 24 hours after implant placement, though not every case qualifies. Planning starts with 3D CBCT imaging, sedation options are available, and consultations are offered in Layton, Bountiful, Murray, and Lehi.
2. Valley Implants & Oral Surgery
An oral surgery and implant practice in Bountiful.
3. Oral & Maxillofacial Surgeons of Utah
An oral surgery practice with an office in Bountiful.
4. Dr. Greg A. Roberts Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery
An oral and maxillofacial surgery office in Murray.
5. Implant & Restorative Dental Specialists
A Layton practice offering implant and restorative dentistry.
What is the real story of same-day teeth?
Same-day teeth are real, well studied, and a good fit for many people who are missing most of their teeth. They are also not instant, not universal, and not a license to eat steak the first week. The honest version is a careful plan, one long appointment, and a few months of patience while the implants heal. If you want to know whether you qualify, schedule a consultation, ask for a 3D scan, and ask whether the teeth you leave with are temporary or final.
