What To Expect From an Immediate Dentures Procedure
Since tooth loss can be a sensitive subject for some, the immediate denture approach is utilized when an individual does not want to wait several months and be without any teeth while dentures are fabricated and the extraction tooth sockets heal. With this process, immediate dentures are placed in the mouth soon after all remaining teeth are extracted.
The immediate dentures procedure is a two step denture process. Ideally, immediate dentures are the first of two dentures in a series and should be considered an interim and temporary prosthesis. Esthetically enhanced denture will then be constructed after healing. More often than not, most or all of the back teeth are removed, and depending on the person’s healing time, extraction sites are typically given a minimum of six weeks or more to heal. Given adequate initial healing time, the immediate dentures are then fabricated. Once the remaining teeth are extracted, the immediate dentures are placed in the mouth.
During this process, immediate dentures act much like a bandage; they hold tissues in place while protecting them during the healing process. In time, immediate dentures gradually become loose, mostly due to bone shrinkage as the jaw continues to heal. Therefore, temporary liners are placed within the loose denture to help keep it in place while healing. In addition, adhesives may also be used to maintain the denture in place as it becomes looser.
After enough time has passed by for adequate healing to occur, the second and long-term denture is created and placed in. After just about six months, the second denture, the semi-permanent denture will most likely have to be readjusted to reline for gradual jaw shrinkage. After this refinement, a patient typically should have annual adjustments to ensure proper fit and comfort as well as to accommodate a continually and gradually shrinking jaw.