What are immediate dentures?
Immediate dentures involve the removal of teeth and insertion of a denture at the same visit. The advantage is that you avoid any period without teeth.
Appointment Scheduling:
Before your teeth are removed a number of appointments is necessary to plan and prepare for the denture fabrication in the laboratory. You should also book an appointment with your dentist to extract the necessary teeth to synchronise all in time.
Appointment 1: At the initial consultation, after examining you, your dental prosthetist will take preliminary impressions of your existing teeth.
Appointment 2: Secondary impressions. This is an appointment where another set of more accurate impressions are taken. Bite and tooth shade might be recorded too.
Appointment 3: If you have quite a few teeth missing already you will have a wax try-in at this stage. The teeth are in the wax and by placing this denture replica in your mouth the operator and you will be able to see of what the final product will look like.
Appointment 4: At this appointment all the designated teeth are removed, stitches may be placed, and the denture is immediately fitted hence the name: an immediate denture.
Appointment 5: A review appointment - you might need a few of those visits. This is when all the necessary adjustments take place such as relieving of sore spots, bite adjustments and other.
After when your gums heal you might either need a reline, which means a new fitting surface for your denture or a completely new set of dentures. The new set of dentures will be much more aesthetically pleasing as the teeth can be now tried out in your mouth before finishing.
Having some or all of your teeth removed is a very emotional journey.
Even though it may feel like a big mile stone and a life changing experience, people are always very grateful for making that decision. Their looks are generally improved and general health is better too.
