UPDATE:

had an appointment with the dentist yesterday. Said extraction site is healing nice, no sign of infection (although I did start amoxicillin 500mg 3 days ago).

During the extraction, he looked at the bone and said it was very good on 3 sides but the labial plate had been lost due to the infection.

He says that given the bone is good on 3 sides, it is best to place the implant after 6 weeks before too much bone resorption, and to place grafting material (not bone) at where the labial plate should be. I guess it will be some months before the implant will be able to take any load.

I think the labial plate has been missing for many, many years as that tooth was always slightly loose and could be moved maybe 1mm in a forward/back direction for as long as I can remember.

I have a temporary denture (plate) but I am struggling to use it as the plate feels horrible. Are there any better solutions?

Got another appointment in 2 weeks time..........