Immediate dentures
What are immediate dentures?
Immediate dentures are precisely what they suggest and can be fitted straight after teeth extraction surgery.
The preparation process involves a skilled clinical assessment of your mouth by Steven Burchell DipCDT RCS(Eng), Practice Principal at the Denture Clinic, Dudley, West Midlands. Together with another of our dentists, they will advise on how best to deliver the treatment.
As well as an oral investigation, we will also need to take impressions of your mouth before the surgery so that our technicians can manufacture the dentures.
What are the benefits of immediate dentures?
Most people who have immediate dentures do so because they don’t have to be without teeth while gums are healing. Confidence can remain uncompromised, and the prosthetic will help the healing process, much the same as a dressing protecting the extraction sites from irritation.
An immediate denture will also allow you to chew much more efficiently than without teeth and reduce the potential of facial distortion which may occur when we remove teeth.
Multiple dental appointments
You will, however, need to be prepared to have some visits to our Dudley clinic for adjustments as the gums heal. Often gums will change shape as they recover. It’s not a problem for us to address any new profile that you may require with a reline of the dentures. In some cases, however, a new prescription is needed.
How will the immediate dentures look?
In the preparation process, it can be easier to duplicate the shape, colour and arrangement of your natural teeth while some are still present in your mouth. If, however, you require an entirely new look, we can advise on what would work well.
What about my speech?
By having an immediate denture, it will allow you to establish your speech patterns early. You will not have to learn to speak without a denture in place and then later relearn to talk with a new denture fitted.
How long will it take for my gums to heal?
It can take up to six months for the soft tissues of the mouth to heal correctly. Generally, at this point, the immediate dentures are finalised by a permanent reline.
Is an immediate denture for everyone?
Not everyone is suitable for an immediate denture. Our practitioners will advise if they do not think you are a suitable candidate and explain their reasons.
What to expect with immediate dentures
For the first 24-hours, we’d ask you not to remove the denture. The immediate denture will control the bleeding and cause minimal discomfort.
Some swelling is to be expected after extractions and to keep this to a minimum and to help stop the bleeding, hold an ice pack to the areas of the jaw where we have extracted teeth (15 minutes on and 15 minutes off).
Remove the denture four or five times a day after the first day and rinse the mouth with tepid salt water. You will also be able to sleep with the denture in place.
Eat soft foods for the first week and then gradually determine what you can handle.
We would advise refraining from alcohol and smoking cigarettes at least until your mouth has healed.
If you develop sore spots, don’t suffer in silence, please call us.
Give us a call 01384 254067
Considering immediate denture?
