Immediate Dentures - Removable Prosthodontics - Dalhousie ...

IMMEDIATE DENTURES
Immediate dentures are dentures that are
provided to a patient the same day as the
extraction of natural teeth. The benefits of
immediate dentures include:
• Appearance – You will not be seen
without any teeth. Dentures can be
matched to appearance of your
existing teeth if desired
• Healing – the denture acts as a
bandage over the extraction sockets
• Adaptation – You don’t have to adapt
to speaking or chewing without teeth
There are a few disadvantages of immediate
dentures, which include:
• Fit- Because bone surrounding teeth
continues to shrink after extractions,
the immediate denture will have to be
relined or remade in 4-6 months.
The alternative is to extract teeth and
go without dentures for 4-6 weeks
while initial healing occurs. A reline
is included with your immediate
dentures if you require one within the
first year.
• Remakes – occasionally due to jaw
repositioning, bite problems or
appearance issues, the denture may
need to be remade, rather than
relined. This is not common, but
does happen. If a denture needs to be
remade, it will necessitate additional
time and cost for patients.
The First 24 Hours
- Do not remove denture until next
appointment (usually 24 hours).
- If a denture comes out replace it
immediately, or swelling may make it
difficult to replace it in your mouth.
- A certain amount of bleeding after surgery
is normal. Slight oozing may occur for
24 hours after surgery. If there is excessive
bleeding, call our clinic.
- Some discomfort usually occurs during the
first 48 hours. Take the pain medication
that has been recommended, as needed.
- For swelling, apply ice wrapped in a towel
over the swelling. Keep the cold on for 10-
15 minutes, then off for 10-15 minutes.
Contact our clinic if swelling persists
longer than 48 hours.
- Some facial discoloration is normal after
surgery. This will disappear shortly.
- Small, sharp bone fragments work their
way through the gum during healing. These
usually fall out without intervention, but if
they become annoying, they can be
removed.
- Eat soft foods & liquids for the first 24
hrs. Gradually begin eating firmer foods.
- Refrain from smoking, drinking alcohol,
using a straw, vigorous rinsing or doing
vigorous activity during the first 24 hours.
These activities could interfere with clot
formation and slow healing.
After 24 Hours
It takes time to adjust to new dentures.
Some things to remember:
Fullness
A sense of fullness may be noted. Your
tongue and muscles will adapt and you
this feeling will subside, usually within
one to two weeks.
Eating
It takes time to adapt to chewing with
new dentures. Your bite will be different,
and your muscles may want to chew like
you did with your old teeth. Eat softer
foods at the start. Cut food up into
smaller pieces, and chew more slowly
until you develop new chewing habits.
Place a small portion in your mouth and
chew mostly with the back teeth. Keep
away from bulky, hard and sticky foods
until you get used to chewing with your
new dentures.
Speech
Occasionally there can be a temporary
difficulty with speech. Practice by
reading aloud. Your speech will soon
return to normal. If the position of your
teeth have been changed dramatically,
you may take longer to get used to
speaking with the new dentures.

Sore Spots
It is common to have sore spots after you get
new dentures. Gum tissue can be pinched
between the denture and bone, and sores may
develop. These can be adjusted at our clinic.
Sore spots should not persist, unless you have
so little bone to support the denture that it
floats or moves easily in your mouth. Call
for an appointment if sore spots persist.
Rest Your Mouth At Night
Once healing has occurred you should
remove your dentures for at least 8 hours a
day, usually while sleeping. Resting the
tissues improves gum health and allows the
denture to fit better for a longer period of
time.
Place denture in a container with liquid
overnight (see reverse). Dentures should not
be left in a dry environment, since they will
dry out and possibly change shape.
Appointments for new dentures, relines or
for adjustments to dentures that have been
made in our clinic can be made at:
Faculty of Dentistry,
Dalhousie University
Halifax, NS B3H 3J5
494-2101
Cleaning Dentures
- Whenever possible clean your denture(s)
after each meal and before sleep. Begin to
do this after the first 24-48 hours, or when
your dentist indicates it is okay to do so.
- Use a soft long bristled brush to clean the
inside and outside surfaces of the denture.
- Use a denture toothpaste or liquid dish
detergent with the toothbrush.
- Brush the denture over a sink full of water,
or over a towel, so if you drop it, it won’t
hit something hard and break.
- Soak the denture overnight in a
commercial denture cleaner of your choice
(e.g. Efferdent, Polident) or soak it in a
dilute solution of bleach (one tablespoon of
household bleach to 8 oz of water). Rinse
well before replacing it in your mouth.
- For best results, use both brushing and
soaking to clean the denture.
- Have your denture checked once a year in
case small adjustments are needed to help
improve the bite, the fit or comfort.
Immediate
Dentures
Division of Removable
Prosthodontics
Dept of Dental Clinical Sciences
Faculty of Dentistry,
Dalhousie University
Halifax, NS B3H 3J5
For appointments for new dentures,
relines or for adjustments to dentures
that have been made in our clinic
Call:
494-2101