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What are immediate dentures?

These are dentures which are placed immediately following the removal of your remaining natural teeth, either upper, lower, or both. They’re made right there in our on-site denture lab. That means no long waits without teeth. At Georgia Implants and Dentures, we also include a package to help you adjust to and function with your dentures as you heal from your procedure. This includes a series of soft linings / soft re-fittings and a final long-term re-fit after you have finished healing.

What are the advantages of immediate dentures?

  • No need to go without teeth. Leave our clinic with new teeth the same day your old teeth are removed.
  • Help you start getting used to dentures right away. The alternative is getting used to being toothless while your extraction sites heal, then still having to learn to function with dentures once you’re healed.
What are immediate dentures?

Immediate dentures are placed the same day your natural teeth are removed, so you never have to go a single day without teeth. Beyond restoring your smile right away, they also serve a medical purpose. They help control swelling and bleeding after surgery by acting as a protective layer over your extraction sites, similar to a bandage.

Immediate dentures are removable. They come in and out of the mouth and are held in place by natural suction for the upper or denture adhesive. Not all patients will have natural suction with their upper denture due to factors like bone loss, a flat palate, or the presence of a palatal torus.

The process typically takes 6-7 months from start to finish, though it can take longer depending on your individual healing.

It starts with impressions taken while your natural teeth are still in place. From those impressions, your dentures are fabricated before your procedure so they’re ready the moment your teeth come out. On the day of your procedure, your teeth are removed and your new dentures are placed immediately. Over the next several months, your gums and jawbone will gradually change shape as you heal. During this time, we place a series of soft liners in your dentures to fill in the gaps and keep the fit as comfortable as possible. At the end of the healing period, you’ll receive a final processed hard reline that gives your dentures their long-term fit.

The cost of immediate dentures depends on your individual case, including how many teeth need to be extracted and whether any additional procedures like alveoloplasty or tori removal are needed. At ViaSmiles, we give you a complete estimate during your consultation that covers the full process from extractions through your final reline, so you know exactly what to expect with no hidden fees.

We offer flexible financing and payment plan options, including CareCredit, to make treatment accessible. If you’re wondering whether your insurance or Medicare covers any portion of the cost, our team can help you sort that out.

Experiences vary, but you should expect some discomfort and possibly swelling in the days following your procedure. The good news is that many patients come in for their next-day post-op appointment reporting very little pain. You’ll be prescribed medication to help manage any discomfort during the initial recovery period.

We offer multiple sedation options for patients who are nervous about their procedure. Whether you’re dealing with dental anxiety, a strong gag reflex, or just prefer not to be aware during surgery, sedation can make the entire experience more comfortable.

During your consultation, your doctor will review your health history to determine which sedation option is the best fit for you. Many patients who were nervous or even terrified about the procedure say that knowing sedation was available is what gave them the confidence to finally move forward.

Every patient is different. Some return to work the next day, while others prefer to take a week or two. Since there’s always a chance of bruising and swelling after extractions, and you’ll be adjusting to eating and speaking with new teeth, the more time you can take off the better. If your job involves a lot of talking or physical activity, leaning toward the longer end is a good idea.

Being prepared at home makes the first few days of recovery much easier. Have the following ready before your procedure day:

Ice packs for managing swelling. Washcloths you don’t mind discarding, as there may be some bleeding. Comfortable clothes you don’t mind getting messy. And plenty of soft foods to get you through the first week or two. Good options include scrambled eggs, mashed potatoes, yogurt, cottage cheese, applesauce, smoothies, protein shakes, oatmeal, and broth-based soups. Stock up ahead of time so you’re not scrambling to find things to eat when you get home.

The adjustment period is real, and it’s different for every patient. Your mouth will be going through significant changes over the 6-month healing phase as your gums and jawbone remodel. The fit of your dentures will shift during this time, which is completely normal and exactly why we schedule regular soft liner appointments to keep things as comfortable as possible.

It does get easier with time. The first few weeks are the hardest, and from there most patients notice steady improvement. We’re here for you throughout the entire process, so if something doesn’t feel right at any point, just let us know.

Not right away, and that’s completely normal. Just as it takes time to adjust to any prosthetic, your new teeth will require some patience and practice. Start with soft foods, cut everything into small pieces, and try to chew with food on both sides of your dentures to distribute the pressure evenly. Over time, your confidence and ability will improve steadily. The more you practice, the faster you’ll adjust.

Speaking will take a little time to feel natural again. Your mouth and tongue need to adjust to the new shape and feel of your dentures. The sounds that give people the most trouble early on are “s” sounds. Practicing words like “Mississippi” and “sixty-six” at home can help you adapt faster.

Most patients sound like themselves again within a couple of weeks. In some cases, a slight lisp may linger with dentures, but that’s not the norm. If you’re noticing persistent speech issues, an adjustment to the fit of your denture can often make a difference.

Yes. A full upper denture covers the roof of your mouth, which is where many of your taste buds are located. This can reduce your taste sensitivity, and it’s one of the more frustrating adjustments for new denture wearers. Some patients find that the sensation improves over time as they adapt, while others continue to notice a difference. For patients who find this particularly bothersome, dental implants can open up the option of removing the palate portion of the denture entirely, which restores full taste.

The palate, the part that covers the roof of your mouth, provides a significant amount of stability and is responsible for nearly all of the natural suction that holds your upper denture in place. Removing it from a traditional denture would compromise the fit to the point where it wouldn’t function well.

That said, for patients with dental implants supporting their upper denture, a good portion of the palate can be removed. The implants provide the stability that the palate would otherwise be responsible for, which means you get better taste, less bulk in your mouth, and a more comfortable fit overall.

This is completely normal in the first few days after having dentures placed. Your body recognizes the denture as something new in your mouth and your salivary glands ramp up production in response. Think of it as your body’s natural reaction to a foreign object. The increased salivation should settle down within 2 to 3 days as your body adjusts.

Any significant bleeding will have stopped before you leave the clinic. After that, expect some slight oozing for 1 to 3 days following the procedure. Keep in mind that when the increased saliva your body produces in those first few days mixes with even a small amount of blood, it can look like a lot more bleeding than it actually is.

If you need help with clotting at home, a simple and effective remedy is tea bags. Dampen a regular tea bag, wring out the excess water, and place it directly on the extraction site. The tannins in the tea help promote clotting. You can use multiple tea bags at once and replace them as they become saturated. Repeat as many times as needed. If heavy bleeding continues, call the office right away.

Yes. Lower dentures are inherently harder to wear than upper dentures. The movements of your tongue and cheeks constantly push and pull on a lower denture, making it feel loose or unstable. This is one of the most common frustrations for denture wearers and it’s not something you’re doing wrong.

If your lower denture is making it difficult to eat or speak with confidence, talk with your doctor about whether you’re a candidate for lower implants. Even two implants can make a dramatic difference in how your lower denture fits and functions.

Yes. Your gums and jawbone shrink down after extractions, which creates space between your dentures and your tissue. This is a normal part of the healing process. We address this with soft liners, which are cushions placed inside your denture to fill in the gaps and improve the fit as your mouth changes shape. You’ll receive multiple soft liners over the course of your 6-month healing period.

A soft liner is a cushion placed inside your denture during the healing process. As your gums and bone remodel after extractions, the shape of your mouth changes and your dentures can start to feel loose. Soft liners fill in those gaps, helping your dentures fit and feel better between your regular appointments. They’re replaced periodically as your healing progresses.

This is possible, especially with lower dentures. Rocking happens when the denture doesn’t have a stable base to rest on, which can be caused by uneven bone, ongoing healing, or simply the limitations of a removable prosthesis. Denture adhesive can help to a degree, but for patients dealing with persistent rocking, dental implants provide the stability that dentures alone can’t achieve.

Alveoloplasty is a procedure where your doctor contours and smooths your jawbone after extractions. When teeth are removed, the remaining bone can be uneven or have sharp ridges that would prevent your dentures from fitting comfortably. Alveoloplasty reshapes those areas so your denture has a smooth, even surface to rest on, which significantly improves both fit and comfort.

Tori are bony growths that develop in the mouths of many patients, typically on the roof of the mouth or along the inside of the lower jaw. They’re not harmful on their own, but they can prevent your dentures from fitting properly or cause pressure points that lead to chronic soreness. In these cases, your doctor will often recommend having them removed before your dentures are made to ensure the best possible fit and comfort.

Yes. Any removable prosthesis will allow some food to get underneath it. The good thing about dentures is how easy they are to deal with when this happens. Simply take them out, rinse the denture and your gums, and put them back in. Keeping up with your daily cleaning routine helps prevent any buildup of food debris from becoming an issue.

Replacing teeth is not just for the elderly. It’s actually quite common for people in their 40s, 30s, and even 20s to need full dentures. Genetics, medications, medical conditions, and a range of other factors can all contribute to tooth loss at any age.

What matters is that bad teeth don’t just affect your mouth. They affect your overall physical health, your ability to eat well, and your confidence in everyday life. Being able to smile, laugh, and talk without worrying about your teeth can be a turning point for people who’ve been struggling in silence. If you need this, your age shouldn’t be what holds you back.

Clean your dentures every day using antibacterial hand soap and either a denture brush or a very soft-bristled toothbrush. Give them a thorough scrub at least once daily. You can also soak them in a denture cleanser or use an ultrasonic cleaner for a deeper clean. When your dentures aren’t in your mouth, always store them in water to keep them from drying out and warping.

Yes, and ideally any other time you can throughout the day as well. Your gum tissue doesn’t receive normal saliva flow while your dentures are in, so removing them gives your gums a chance to rest and be cleansed naturally. This is especially important during the healing phase when your tissue is still recovering from extractions. If you grind your teeth, taking your dentures out while sleeping will also help them last significantly longer.

Yes. Dentures are made from acrylic teeth and an acrylic base. While these materials are strong, they can crack or break if dropped, especially onto hard surfaces like porcelain sinks or tile floors.

One thing worth mentioning that catches a lot of people off guard: pets love to chew on dentures. Dogs especially, but sometimes cats too, can destroy a set in minutes. Always store them somewhere your pets can’t reach.

In most cases, yes. One of the advantages of acrylic dentures is that they’re relatively easy and affordable to repair compared to other materials. And in many cases, we can complete the repair the same day.

If the palate coverage of a full upper denture is something you can’t tolerate, dental implants are the solution. With implant-supported teeth, enough of the palate can be removed to dramatically improve comfort, restore your taste, and reduce the gagging sensation that some patients experience. Talk with your doctor during your consultation about whether implants are the right fit for you.

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