If you’re on the path to living with dentures, you might be surprised by the timeline involved. After your teeth are removed, you won’t receive your new dentures right away. Why? Your dentist needs to take impressions of your mouth after your gums have healed, which typically takes 6 to 12 weeks, to ensure a perfect fit. That means you’ll be without teeth and without dentures for several weeks. In the meantime, you’ll rely on a set of immediate dentures. Though temporary, they play an important role in the overall process. What are immediate dentures? Scroll down to find out.
The Role of Immediate Dentures
As we mentioned above, after all your teeth are removed, you won’t be able to get a permanent set of dentures right away. Your gums need time to heal. However, it’s typically not the best idea to leave the mouth completely empty. This is where immediate dentures come into play. They’re an effective interim treatment that can be worn from the day your teeth are removed to the day your final set of dentures arrives. With proper home care and regular adjustments, immediate dentures can play a great short-term role in the health and function of your smile.
Immediate dentures provide all the following benefits:
- They provide a functional bite. After your teeth are removed, immediate dentures will allow you to chew and eat right away. You’ll need to adjust to having them in your mouth, and it might take a little time for you to be able to chew comfortably, but you will have a functional bite.
- They will give you a natural-looking smile. You might feel a little self-conscious after your teeth are removed, but immediate dentures will restore your smile right away. You’ll never be without teeth. In some cases, you might even prefer the look of your denture teeth to your former teeth.
- They support your face. Your teeth play a bigger role in your mouth than you might have realized, as they also support your cheeks, jaw, and lips. Immediate dentures can step into this role right away, ensuring your face is supported and giving you an attractive smile.
- They aid in the healing process. Because they’re placed right after your teeth are extracted, immediate dentures can serve as a sort of bandage. They may help control bleeding, and they can protect gum tissue from debris and bacteria.
What You Can Expect with Immediate Dentures
The process of fitting and receiving immediate dentures varies from case to case, but in almost all circumstances, you can expect to visit your dentist several times. This series of appointments will give your dentist time to collect a variety of data to shape your immediate dentures and ensure they look natural. The following steps are generally a part of the process:
- Your dental team will make an accurate model of your mouth before removing any teeth.
- They will modify the model to match the shape your gums will be after the extractions and send this information to a lab.
- The lab will use the model to create your immediate dentures.
- After your teeth are removed, you will wear your immediate dentures continually for one to three days. They will likely feel tight because your gums will be swollen.
- As your gums and jawbone change shape over the next several weeks, you’ll need to visit your dentist at least once to have the surface of the denture relined. This ensures a comfortable fit.
- When your mouth is healed and ready, your dentist will discuss the steps you’ll need to take to get your permanent dentures.
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Do you believe you may be ready for dentures? If you’re looking for an experienced, reliable, and friendly dentist in or near Springfield, Missouri, contact Wilkinson Dental. Our team will give you the personalized treatment you deserve using state-of-the-art technology. Schedule your first appointment today by calling 417-708-0556 or requesting an appointment online. We look forward to hearing from you!