Rock icon Tom Petty famously sang, “The waiting is the hardest part.” If you need to have teeth removed and plan to replace them with dentures, you may wonder how long you will have to wait before getting your new smile. The answer depends on several factors. In some cases, you can receive dentures immediately after extraction, while other patients may need to wait several weeks. Let’s discuss your options!
No Waiting with Immediate Dentures
Immediate dentures earned their moniker from their ability to be placed on the same day your remaining teeth are extracted. Your dentist takes impressions or measurements of your mouth before the extractions so the dentures can be prepared in advance.
One advantage of immediate dentures is that you do not have to spend a period without teeth. They can also help protect extraction sites and allow you to begin adjusting to wearing dentures sooner.
However, your gums and jawbone will change shape as they heal from extraction. Because immediate dentures are made before the extractions, they may require adjustments or a reline as your mouth changes.
You’ll also be learning to speak and chew with a new prosthesis while your gums are sore and the extraction sites are at their most tender, which can be challenging.
Conventional Dentures Require Healing Time
If you are receiving traditional dentures, your dentist may recommend allowing your gums and underlying tissues to heal before taking final impressions. This often takes 6 to 8 weeks, although the exact timeline varies from person to person.
Waiting allows swelling to decrease and the shape of your gums to stabilize. Once your mouth has healed sufficiently, your dentist can take impressions and measurements to create dentures designed to fit your new oral anatomy.
The downside? You’ll be without teeth until your gums heal.
The total process can take several weeks or longer depending on how many teeth were extracted, how your mouth heals and how quickly your dentures can be fabricated.
Implant Dentures: Different Timelines
Implant dentures represent a more stable tooth loss restoration compared to immediate and traditional dentures. With this treatment, the denture is supported by an implant post that is surgically placed in the jaw. A piece called the abutment connects the denture to the post.
The waiting period for how soon you can receive an implant denture after tooth extraction varies in length. Some patients can have an implant placed during the same appointment when the tooth is removed. Most patients require 2 to 3 months of healing, while others may have to wait longer than 12 weeks for an implant due to infection at the extraction site, major bone loss, or extensive healing time.
Don’t Rule Out Adjustments
Even after you receive your dentures, your mouth may continue changing during the healing process. This can cause your dentures to feel loose or uncomfortable, particularly after multiple extractions.
Your dentist can make adjustments or recommend a denture reline to improve the fit. Over time, continued changes to the jawbone and gums may require additional adjustments or eventually a replacement set of dentures.
Denture adhesives can be a valuable tool for keeping your dentures in place, but you shouldn’t rely on them too much for a good fit. See your dentist if the issue persists.
Whether you receive dentures immediately or wait for your mouth to heal, following your dentist’s post-extraction instructions is essential. Proper care during the healing process can help you move toward a comfortable, functional denture fit.
About the Practice
For patients interested in replacing missing teeth, our internationally recognized dental team offers prosthetics including full, partial, and implant dentures, all designed with cutting edge technology. Want to learn more about why we’ve been a staple in Boston for more than 50 years? Visit our website or call (617) 227-4924.