Question: I went to my dentist and she stated that because my teeth were in such bad shape I would have to have them out and have dentures made. She stated something about an immediate denture, but she didn’t have the time to answer my questions. Could you please clarify what this is? Thank You.
Answer: Complete dentures are called either “conventional” or “immediate” according to when they are made and when they are inserted into the mouth.
Immediate dentures are inserted immediately after the removal of the remaining teeth. To make this possible, the dentist takes measurements and makes the models of the patient’s jaws during a preliminary visit.
An advantage of immediate dentures is that the wearer does not have to be without teeth during the healing period. However, bones and gums can shrink over time, especially during the period of healing in the first six months after the removal of teeth. When gums shrink, immediate dentures may require rebasing or relining to fit properly. A conventional denture can then be made once the tissues have healed. Healing may take at least 6-8 weeks.
