Immediate dentures are dental prostheses inserted immediately after natural teeth are removed. This approach ensures individuals do not experience a period without teeth following extractions.
Understanding Immediate Dentures
Before any teeth are removed, a dental professional takes impressions and measurements of the patient’s existing teeth and gums. These impressions are then used to fabricate the custom denture. Immediate dentures are placed on the same day teeth are extracted. This differs from conventional dentures, which typically require a healing period of several weeks or months after extractions before impressions are taken and the denture is made.
Primary Roles After Tooth Removal
Immediate dentures maintain a patient’s appearance by preventing a period without teeth, preserving their smile and facial aesthetics. This immediate placement helps support facial muscles and prevents the sunken appearance that might otherwise occur after tooth loss. Beyond aesthetics, these dentures help maintain the ability to speak and chew, although initial adaptation may present challenges. Patients can establish early speech patterns and continue to eat soft foods, which is beneficial for nutrition during the initial healing phase.
Immediate dentures also serve a protective role, acting as a bandage over surgical sites. This coverage helps control bleeding and minimizes swelling immediately following extractions. By applying pressure, the denture promotes stable blood clot formation, important for proper healing and reducing the risk of complications like dry socket. The denture also guides healing gum tissue, encouraging a uniform and desirable shape for future prosthetic solutions.
Adapting to Immediate Dentures
Patients will experience an adjustment period as their mouth adapts to immediate dentures. Discomfort, swelling, or sensitivity are common as gums and jawbone heal from extractions. The denture’s fit may feel unusual initially, and patients might notice increased saliva production. Learning to speak clearly and chew effectively also requires practice and patience.
As gums heal and shrink, the immediate denture’s fit will change and may become loose. Dental professionals perform relines, adding material to improve its fit and stability. Soft relines are temporary, used during the initial healing phase to accommodate ongoing changes, while hard relines provide a more stable fit later. Regular follow-up appointments are important for adjustments to ensure comfort and function as the mouth heals.
The Journey Beyond Immediate Dentures
Immediate dentures are generally considered a transitional appliance, serving a specific purpose during the initial healing period following tooth extractions. Due to the ongoing changes in gum and bone structure after tooth removal, immediate dentures typically have a limited lifespan, often ranging from six months to one year. As the mouth heals, the bone and gum tissues will resorb and shrink, causing the denture to become loose and ill-fitting. After the healing process is complete, which can take several months, patients often transition to a conventional (permanent) denture or explore other long-term tooth replacement options like dental implants. The immediate denture can sometimes be relined permanently to serve as a spare, but a new, custom-fitted denture is often recommended for optimal long-term comfort and stability.