If you lose one or more teeth due to gum disease or tooth decay, you can replace these teeth with partial or full dentures. Dentures are removable artificial teeth that look like natural teeth.
After a dentist extracts your teeth, it can take several months to make, or manufacture, your customized permanent dentures. In the meantime, you can choose whether you want to wear immediate or temporary restorations.
Here’s what you need to know about temporary dentures, including the pros and cons, and whether you are a good candidate for this type of artificial teeth.
The main difference between an immediate prosthesis and a conventional or permanent prosthesis is that the former is temporary. Immediate prostheses are not individually adapted to the mouth like fixed prostheses and therefore do not always fit correctly.
Immediate dentures are dentures that are placed in your mouth the same day your dentist extracts your teeth. You will wear these for the first few months after the extraction. This way you will have teeth while you wait for your permanent dentures to arrive.
Immediate dentures also protect your gums while your mouth heals from the extraction.
When your dentist suggests immediate dentures, it is important to understand the pros and cons so you know what to expect.
To be clear, you don’t “need” to get a prosthesis right away.
If you lose just one tooth or a few teeth (on the sides of your mouth), those missing teeth may go unnoticed. For this reason, the decision for an immediate prosthesis is often a personal decision due to the treatment costs as well as the advantages and disadvantages.
However, your dentist will likely suggest immediate dentures with full mouth extraction.
Also, keep in mind that immediate prostheses can trigger gag reflexes in some people. Since these prostheses are not fitted to your mouth like traditional prostheses, they can move around easily and touch the back of your mouth, triggering this reflex.
If you have a strong gag reflex, you can skip an immediate prosthesis and wait for your permanent prosthesis that fits better.
The process of getting immediate dentures involves several visits to the dentist. At your first appointment, your dentist will measure your upper and lower jaw and note the shape and color of your natural teeth.
Timeframe and procedure for partial dentures
If you only lose a few teeth and get a partial denture, your dentist will record your bite at your first appointment. This involves taking an impression (or a hard impression) of your teeth. You will use this impression to order an immediate partial denture.
When your immediate prosthesis is ready, return to your dentist’s office to have your teeth extracted and your immediate prosthesis inserted and adjusted.
Time frame and procedure for full dentures
If all teeth are to be extracted, you will need a full denture. Your dentist will usually remove your posterior (back) teeth first. The extraction area is then allowed to heal for approximately 4 to 8 weeks.
After the area heals, your dentist will take an impression of your mouth and order an immediate denture from that impression.
When your immediate denture arrives, make an appointment to have your remaining front teeth (front teeth) extracted. After the extraction, your dentist will place your immediate denture in your mouth and adjust it.
You will need to wear your immediate prosthesis for around 24 hours after surgery before you can remove it. Prepare for regular follow-up visits to your dentist to reattach your immediate dentures. Their fit can change as your mouth heals.
Time frame and procedure for fixed dentures
You need to give your mouth time to heal before your dentist can start making your permanent dentures. The healing time can take anywhere from 3 to 6 months.
After your mouth has completely healed, your dentist will take several bite impressions of your jaw and mouth. The dentist will use these impressions to create a denture that is precisely tailored to the exact shape of your mouth for a more accurate fit.
Immediate prostheses are designed as temporary and are only worn for about 6 to 8 months until a permanent prosthesis arrives. Since these are not mouth-adapted, they can slip and move, so many people do not wear them for long periods of time.
Your immediate denture will also need regular adjustments and “relining” (by adding material to the inside of your denture) as your mouth heals and the swelling subsides.
Nevertheless, immediate prostheses can last just as long as conventional or permanent prostheses. In fact, some people choose to wear instant prostheses for the long term and skip purchasing permanent prostheses in order to save money.
Others even keep their immediate dentures as a backup in case they lose or damage their permanent dentures.
However, if you choose to wear an immediate prosthesis permanently, they will need to be aligned and adjusted frequently to ensure a correct fit.
Immediate prostheses are comparable in price to permanent prostheses. However, it is worth noting that the cost really depends on where you live and the types of materials used.
Some premium dentures use metal or mesh liners, which can range from $ 2,000 to $ 4,000 per plate. This means that a full set of upper and lower dentures can cost anywhere from $ 4,000 to $ 8,000.
A very basic (non-premium) single disk could be anywhere from $ 600 to $ 1,000, or $ 1,200 to $ 2,000 for a full set.
The price also varies depending on your dentist and the level of your dental plan (if you have one).
Make sure to talk to your dentist about your options at your first appointment. Ask to see before and after pictures of their work.
You can also ask friends and family for recommendations and read online patient reviews. It is important to choose a dentist who has extensive experience working with denture patients.
Gum disease or severe tooth decay can lead to missing teeth. In some cases, your dentist may also need to remove some – or all – of your teeth.
Regardless of whether you need partial or full dentures, the process from start to finish can take several months.
An immediate denture right after an extraction ensures you won’t be without teeth for too long, which can protect your gums and boost your self-confidence.
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