Has your dentist advised that you have all of your upper or lower teeth removed? Don’t worry – you can still walk out of your dentist’s office with your lovely smile intact if you choose to use an immediate denture. Immediate dentures are temporary devices that are placed the same day that your teeth are extracted. While you can’t use them forever, they’re a great short-term treatment for restoring the function of your bite and the natural beauty of your smile.
Immediate Dentures 101
Benefits of Immediate Dentures
Although they only work for people in a specific situation (those having all of the upper or lower teeth removed), immediate dentures offer a variety of advantages:
- Protection: Immediate dentures protect your gums and help control bleeding after your teeth have been removed.
- Beauty: Immediate dentures can be placed immediately after the extraction of your teeth (as you might have guessed). Due to the expedited process, you’ll never be without teeth and you can retain a natural-looking appearance. The dentures will support your cheeks and lips, preventing a change in the shape of your face, and give you an attractive smile.
- Function: Because of the quick turnaround, you’ll never be without teeth. This means you won’t have to learn how to speak or eat without teeth. The dentures will restore the functionality of your mouth. They will take a little time to get used to, of course, but they will help you immediately begin training for life with dentures.
Conventional dentures may take days or weeks to create. If you don’t want to lose your smile in the interim between the extraction of your teeth and the arrival of your conventional dentures, discuss the possibility of immediate dentures with your dentist. For some, the immediacy of the device is essential. For others, it makes more sense to wait for conventional dentures.
The Procedure
The process of creating an immediate denture varies from case to case, but it usually begins with a series of appointments in which the following steps take place:
- Impressions: Before your teeth are removed, your dentist will take impressions of your mouth in order to create an accurate model of your mouth. After your teeth are removed, this model will be modified to fit the new shape of your gums.
- Construction: Based on the model of your mouth, a lab will create your new immediate denture.
- Placement: Your dentist will thoroughly numb your mouth and extract your teeth. If the circumstances require it, your dentist may close your gums with stitches. Then, your dentist will insert the immediate denture.
- Healing: You must wear your immediate denture for 24 hours following the extraction of your teeth. Be sure to follow all postoperative instructions provided by your dentist and hygienists. The day after the extraction, you will return to your dentist for a follow-up appointment, during which your dentist will check the healing of your mouth. You may notice that the denture feels tight – this is normal and caused by the swelling of your gums.
- Modification: Over the next several months, your gums and jawbone will change shape. During this time, your dentist will need to reline the surface of your denture at least once to ensure the fit is secure and comfortable. Be sure to continue visiting your dentist for regular check-ups, during which your dentist can monitor healing, provide maintenance, and answer any questions you have.
For more information, check out our blog post Your First Day with Immediate Dentures.
Do you need to have all of your upper or lower teeth extracted? Do you want to avoid that interim period in which you have neither teeth nor dentures? Immediate dentures might be perfect for you. To learn more, contact Keen Smiles Family Dental today to schedule a consultation. You can make an appointment online or call us at 417-708-0556.
