Immediate Dentures

What is an Immediate Denture?

When you lose your teeth for the first time, there are basically two ways to replace them with dentures. The first and most popular is as an Immediate Denture.

The second way is to wait until the bone and gums have healed and then have a Post-Extraction Denture made. See Post- Extraction Dentures for more information.

You've been advised by your dentist to have an Immediate Denture. But what is it and how is it done? I hope that this information will help to explain the concepts and clear up any of the questions you might have regarding this type of prosthesis. Immediate Dentures, as the name suggests, are made prior to the extraction of remaining teeth and inserted by the dentist immediately upon extraction. This helps control the bleeding, swelling and acts as a “bandage” over the extractions.

Let me explain what an immediate denture is by using an example.

Immediate Dentures in Action

Suppose, for instance, that you have eight (8) remaining upper teeth. These teeth are, unfortunately, poor and cannot be utilized in any way to support a new denture. If you were to have a traditional or Post-Extraction Denture made, it would be necessary to have all of these teeth extracted first, the bone and gums would have to heal and then a denture could be fabricated.

This process could take several months, if not longer, and for that time period you would have to go around without any teeth. As an alternative to having you go around toothless while the bone and gums heal, we utilize an Immediate Denture technique. This involves taking impressions of your mouth while your teeth are still present. At the same time, when your teeth are extracted, we have a denture ready to be inserted by your dentist. In this way, you never have to walk around without teeth. Immediate Dentures do present certain situations which I would like to discuss with you.

Since we are unable to try in the denture prior to extracting your teeth, certain esthetic compromises may have to be made. This should not present any significant problem, however, and your esthetic result is usually more than satisfactory.

Since our goal is for you never to be without teeth, your dentist will be inserting your new denture immediately after the extraction of your remaining teeth. This may seem odd, but it is perfectly normal. Typically, after the extraction of teeth, there may be some swelling. By placing your denture in immediately, this swelling can be kept to a minimum. If you did not place the denture immediately, the swelling that occurs might not allow you to wear your denture until the swelling subsided.

• It is very important that you follow the post-operative instructions of your dentist and DP very carefully. Your follow up appointment is very important. You must wear you new immediate denture for three (3) days, or such time as your dentist instructs you, after the surgery, without removing it. This will help to control the bleeding and swelling.
• You must follow the oral hygiene instructions provided by your dentist and DP. This will usually include frequent rinsing of the mouth with salty water. This helps control harmful bacteria thereby permitting healing of the bone and gums.
• In order to compensate for the rapid changes that occur during healing, a temporary denture lining may be used to adapt the fit surface of the denture to the present size and shape of the supportive tissues. The duration of the effectiveness of the lining depends upon when the lining is done. There is a fee for this service.
• There may be other adjustments to the denture that are necessary to help keep them comfortable during the healing period. You should consult your DP. Experience shows that soreness is the greatest handicap to denture comfort.
• Once healing has occurred, after approximately six (6) months, you will either need a reline of your immediate denture or the fabrication of an entirely new denture. If a new one is to be made, we will then be able to make any esthetic and phonetic changes that you want within the limits of denture prosthodontics. If a new denture is to be made, you will then be able to use the immediate denture as a spare ( emergency ) denture. This can sure come in handy if your new denture should break and need to be repaired. Failure to reline an immediate denture will cause discomfort and may allow hyperplasic tissue to grow against the denture into the space created by the shrinkage of the bone and gums.

Phone now for a FREE CONSULTATION (by appointment) and for friendly and professional advice on 07 3807 3600.