It’s possible to arrive at the Smile Center in need of new teeth and walk out the door a mere two hours later wearing dentures. This same-day smile upgrade comes courtesy of immediate dentures. The earlier Dr. Kent and his team fill those gaps, the sooner you can get used to eating, speaking, and living with your new dentures.
The process
Conventional and immediate dentures can replace some or all of your natural teeth. Both require planning such as making impressions of your mouth and taking measurements to see how the upper and lower jaws fit together.
The immediate denture process differs from the conventional denture process at the time when teeth are extracted.
After any remaining teeth are pulled, Dr. Kent and his team typically:
- Insert the initial “healing” denture
- Schedule follow-up visits during the next 6 to 12 weeks while soft tissues heal
- Adjust the healing denture as tissues supporting the appliance shrink, causing the mouth’s shape to change
- Take final measurements
- Make the permanent denture in our lab
- Insert your permanent, new teeth
The Smile Center team will be with you every step of the way. It’s normal for dentures to feel awkward at first. There may even be minor irritation, soreness, and increased saliva. If you are concerned about any discomfort or symptoms, call us 24/7. Live personnel staff our phones around the clock.
We are so serious about making sure you are happy with the look of your smile that the process isn’t over until the final adjustments are made. You must confirm in writing that you’re happy with the finished product.
Unlike immediate dentures, conventional dentures are not placed until after the healing process is complete. During these months, you may not have any teeth. Since some teeth remain in place, the Smile Center can accurately duplicate the shape, shade, and arrangement of your natural teeth. Like temporary crowns placed while permanent crowns are made in our lab, the immediate denture can also protect tissues during the critical healing period.
Before the Smile Center team embarks on these immediate dentures steps with you, we’ll need to determine if this type of denture is best. Factors to consider include specific oral health or medical conditions. We may also discuss other immediate dentures options, such as those placed on dental implants rooted in the jawbone for added stability. Call so we can discuss immediate dentures more with you, and options for payment and sedation to make this experience as comfortable and worry-free as possible.