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What Is an Immediate Denture?

Mary McMahon
Mary McMahon
Mary McMahon
Mary McMahon

An immediate denture is a denture which is designed to be fitted into place as soon as teeth are extracted. Immediate dentures can be partial or full, depending on the needs of the patient, and they have a number of advantages which make them appealing to some patients. The biggest advantage from the perspective of the patient may be an aesthetic one: with an immediate denture, a patient never needs to walk around without any teeth.

Not all patients are candidates for an immediate denture, but if a dentist feels that this option is appropriate for a patient, the patient will need several appointments before the planned extraction so that casts can be taken of the mouth. These casts will be used in the fabrication of the denture, a process which takes several weeks, and once the denture is ready, the patient can be scheduled for an extraction.

Immediate partial dentures.
Immediate partial dentures.

After the extraction, the denture is immediately placed, and checked for fit. Wearing this type of denture actually reduces pain and swelling for the patient post-extraction. It also allows the patient to start to learn to speak with a denture in place right away, rather than having to wait, and it makes it easier for the patient to eat. In the first 24 hours, the denture must be left in place, and the patient is given drugs to manage pain and soreness. After this period, the denture is periodically removed for cleaning.

An immediate denture will be available to a patient as soon as their teeth are extracted.
An immediate denture will be available to a patient as soon as their teeth are extracted.

As the patient heals with a denture in place, he or she will need to periodically return to the dentist so that the fit can be checked again. As the mouth heals, it will change shape, and the denture may require relining to ensure that it fits properly. Once the healing is complete, which can take up to six months, the denture can be relined again to fit the mouth properly, or an entirely new denture can be fabricated if the appliance does not look or feel appropriate for the patient.

Most removable partial dentures are custom made to fit a specific patient, and the teeth are extracted after the appliance is available.
Most removable partial dentures are custom made to fit a specific patient, and the teeth are extracted after the appliance is available.

One of the issues with an immediate denture is that it is not always possible to get a good fit. An immediate partial denture, for example, may not fit properly because it's hard to get the fit right using casts of a mouth with damaged teeth in place. Immediate full dentures may look or feel odd once they are fitted after the removal of the teeth, due to underlying differences in jaw structure, and the patient may need some time to get used to the denture.

Patients are typically given pain relief to lessen the discomfort after an immediate denture is placed.
Patients are typically given pain relief to lessen the discomfort after an immediate denture is placed.

Opting for immediate dentures can make patients feel more confident and comfortable after an extraction. Patients should be aware that the denture can be costly, as it will be necessary to pay for the fabrication of the denture and for numerous adjustments which occur as the mouth heals, and the patient may need to purchase a new denture to replace the denture at the end of the healing period.

Mary McMahon
Mary McMahon

Ever since she began contributing to the site several years ago, Mary has embraced the exciting challenge of being a TheHealthBoard researcher and writer. Mary has a liberal arts degree from Goddard College and spends her free time reading, cooking, and exploring the great outdoors.

Learn more...
Mary McMahon
Mary McMahon

Ever since she began contributing to the site several years ago, Mary has embraced the exciting challenge of being a TheHealthBoard researcher and writer. Mary has a liberal arts degree from Goddard College and spends her free time reading, cooking, and exploring the great outdoors.

Learn more...

Discussion Comments

Reminiscence

Buster29- I'm in the same boat you are when it comes to bad teeth and the possibility of dentures. I seriously considered implants, but they cost more than an entire set of new dentures sometimes. Plus I'd rather get all of the extractions over with at one time instead of having gaps everywhere. I don't know if immediate dentures would fit my budget, but they sure would be an improvement over what I have now.

I'm beginning to think I could get by with an immediate partial denture, because most of my bad teeth are in the same area of my upper jaw. It would be more of a bridge than full upper dentures. I think the procedure is the same as what the dentists advertise as "same day dentures".

Buster29

If I can find a way to afford it, I will definitely look into getting immediate dentures. I've been losing a few teeth in the past few years, but I can still eat most foods. I just have a horrible smile, because most of my damaged or missing teeth are in the front. If could get all of the extractions done at one time and get fitted for dentures right way, that would be great.

I had some relatives who had all of their teeth extracted first, then waited a long time for their permanent dentures. They couldn't eat regular food, and they looked twenty years older than they were because of the missing teeth. I think I would want an immediate upper denture, at least, so I could eat my favorite foods again.

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    • Immediate partial dentures.
      By: Haider Azim
      Immediate partial dentures.
    • An immediate denture will be available to a patient as soon as their teeth are extracted.
      By: Bartkowski
      An immediate denture will be available to a patient as soon as their teeth are extracted.
    • Most removable partial dentures are custom made to fit a specific patient, and the teeth are extracted after the appliance is available.
      By: milosljubicic
      Most removable partial dentures are custom made to fit a specific patient, and the teeth are extracted after the appliance is available.
    • Patients are typically given pain relief to lessen the discomfort after an immediate denture is placed.
      By: luanateutzi
      Patients are typically given pain relief to lessen the discomfort after an immediate denture is placed.
    • Dentures may be worn if a patient's teeth begin to fall out.
      By: Warren Goldswain
      Dentures may be worn if a patient's teeth begin to fall out.
    • Not all patients are candidates for immediate dentures.
      By: Andrey Kiselev
      Not all patients are candidates for immediate dentures.
    • Wearing ill-fitting dentures can increase air intake and cause flatulence.
      By: Minerva Studio
      Wearing ill-fitting dentures can increase air intake and cause flatulence.
    • Not all patients are good candidates for an immediate denture.
      By: pressmaster
      Not all patients are good candidates for an immediate denture.