If you are planning to have extractions, you will need to decide how – and when – to span the gap where you will soon be missing teeth.
Partial or complete dentures are a sensible option for many people to replace missing dentition, restore correct dental function, and preserve aesthetics.
How long do you have to wait to get dentures after your teeth are pulled? Can you start wearing a denture immediately? After a few days? A week? Longer?
The timing of when a denture can be inserted after extractions depends on several factors, including whether you proceed with an immediate denture or a post-surgical denture.
Immediate dentures
An immediate denture is constructed before your teeth are extracted and inserted immediately following your extractions.
This immediate placement protects your mouth’s tissues, minimizes bleeding, promotes healing, and helps you make the transition from natural teeth to a denture smoothly.
The process of making your immediate denture needs to begin at least 2 weeks before your extractions appointment. This will ensure that your new denture will be ready by the date when you will have your teeth removed.
To make the denture, you will need to have impressions taken of your mouth. You will also have an opportunity to select a tooth shade that works best for you. Once the denture is made, you will pick it up and bring it with you to your extraction appointment.
Following extractions, you will see dramatic change to your oral structures, including significant reduction in bone mass.
During the time when bone loss is occurring rapidly (up to a year following extractions), you may need to see your Denturist periodically for adjustments. Most people will eventually need a refitting or reline of their immediate denture to ensure it fits properly while they are still healing.
Immediate dentures are usually worn in the period of time between when you have teeth extracted and when sufficient changes to your bone structure has occurred and a permanent denture can be worn. Because of this, immediate dentures are also called transitional dentures as they are worn in this time of transition between having natural teeth and having a permanent denture.
Post-surgical dentures
A post-surgical denture is constructed after your teeth have been extracted and your tissues have healed.
The amount of time required for the mouth to heal is unique to each person and varies from patient to patient. Typically, the process will take several weeks to several months.
During this healing process, your oral structures will change considerably as your mouth adapts to its new edentulous (“without teeth”) state.
After your mouth heals, your Denturist will take impressions of your mouth, design the dentures, have you try them on, and then finally give you the completed dentures. The process to construct a complete denture takes 3 to 4 weeks, and 4 to 5 weeks for a partial denture.
Waiting to have your denture made until bone loss tapers off means that your denture will be made to fit the current contours of your mouth. This will result in more accurate fit and function and will allow for better customization of your denture’s appearance.
Which option should I choose?
There is no “right option” when it comes to your first denture. Some people do well with an immediate denture, and others are better suited to healing first and then moving ahead with a post-surgical denture.
To help you with the decision, we recommend that you schedule a consultation appointment with your Denturist. At this no-charge appointment, you will discuss your situation, including your dental history, the reason you are having teeth extracted, and what your expectations are for your new denture.
We will also consult with your dentist about your dental health and history.
Once we have a more complete idea of your needs, and a thorough understanding of your dental health, we would be able to recommend a denture treatment to you.