Immediate Dentures

Tooth loss can result from many things.  Tooth decay, accidents, and gum disease rank high on the list of causes.  Periodontal disease can even cause bone loss which further loosens teeth in their sockets.  When teeth become damaged or loose beyond a certain point, many dentists feel that extraction is the only course of action.  If it is determined that teeth have to be removed, immediate dentures can be used as teeth replacements. 

Immediate dentures are so called because they are made at the time of tooth extraction and placed in the mouth immediately after the extraction has been performed.  This offers a very good chance of speedy recovery with a significantly lessened likelihood of infection. 

Dentists make immediate dentures first by taking impressions of the mouth before any teeth are actually pulled.  Natural teeth are pressed into a mold that retains their size, shape, and texture.  This mold is used to build precise working models of every tooth in your mouth.  These models will ultimately be used to make your dentures.  Dentists then carefully study the shape and color of your teeth to determine the color your dentures will be.  When all of these preliminary steps are complete, the immediate dentures are cast, and the unhealthy or loose teeth extracted.  Dentists will anesthetize your mouth to prevent you from feeling pain during the procedure.

Once all teeth to be extracted have been removed, each one will be immediately replaced by a denture.  There will be some discomfort resulting from this for the first 24 hours.  Your gums will swell, causing the denture(s) to feel tight.  There will also be other temporary problems associated immediate to the placement of your dentures.  You may notice one or more of them tipping when you chew, and many patients report a noticeable increase in salivation. 

Dentures always feel bulky to people no matter how closely we make them to match original teeth.  This is simply the bodys perception of something new being introduced to the mouth, not an indication of incorrect manufacture.  Some people with a strong gag reflex will often be bothered in the beginning as well, and there are common reports from people who say the tongue feels crowded to the point that speaking is difficult.  However, all of these side effects diminish and eventually go away during the ensuing months as the healing process readjusts to your new dentures. 

In fact, the bone will heal over the next six to nine months.  Your gums will accordingly shrink, and the immediate denture(s) will actually feel a bit loose.  We will correct this by using a temporary lining material to fill the small gaps between the denture(s) and the gum. 

Ultimately, however, the body itself will balance out the difference and adjust to the presence of your replacement teeth.  When the healing process is complete after about 9 months, your mouth will assume a final shape that we can then use to reline each denture for a final fit.

While no one wants to lose a tooth, it is certainly better than letting infection develop into an abscess or advanced periodontal disease.  Immediate dentures are one way to prevent further health problems from developing and improve the quality of your smile and the overall health of your mouth.