Immediate Denture

You have just had an immediate denture placed in your mouth.

The following information will assist you in understanding the sequence of events during the healing period.

• After your dentist extracts your teeth, dentures will be placed immediately to replace your missing teeth and gum tissue. Initially, these dentures will feel large and bulky until your gums have healed. The dentures may cause your speech to be altered for a few days. This will disappear soon.
• Do not remove dentures until the next day. The new dentures will help with the initial healing. DO NOT RINSE your mouth out today, as this will encourage bleeding. You can have a drink but nothing hot until the following day. Take care not to bite your mouth or lips whilst they are still numb.
• The day after the extraction, rinse your mouth with warm salt water to promote healing. Use 1 teaspoon of salt in one beaker of warm water. Rinse 3-4 times daily.
• Remove your dentures every night. Click here to read more on how to clean your dentures.
• Some discomfort is usually present; this discomfort is due to the trauma of removing teeth, which will heal rapidly and go away by itself. Also, the dentures may have a pressure spot; if so, tell your dentist and the denture can be eased.
• Use pain medication until the discomfort has gone. Take whatever you normally take for discomfort or pain, but DO NOT take ASPIRIN, as it may make the area bleed.
• No exercise for the next 24hrs. Try to rest for the rest of the day.
• If you have been given antibiotics, take them as directed until they are finished. If you suffer any side effects like an itchy rash, stop taking the medicine and let us know. Diarrhoea from antibiotics is not an allergy and may be helped by eating unsterilised yoghurt once or twice a day.
• If you have been prescribed METRONIDAZOLE (FLAGYL), it is important to avoid alcohol.

After several months, your denture may need to be relined or replaced to fit the healing and changing supporting tissues. Healing from tooth extractions continues for up to 18 months. Shrinkage of gums and bone is obvious during that time but slows thereafter.

You may require relines of your dentures in the future. Immediate dentures are a major change to your body. Don’t worry if you are slow to adapt. Many others have been through this experience, and everyone adapts to change at their own pace.

If you have any queries, please ring the practice on 01883 712 201. There is an answering machine with contact numbers for those outside working hours.