If you need one or more tooth extractions before you can receive your dentures, you might be wondering how soon you can start wearing them. After all, you’ll have to heal after a tooth extraction, right?
Yes – but also not necessarily. There might be more options available to you than you think. Keep reading to see what we mean.
The Pros and Cons of Immediate Dentures
It’s true. Technically, you could start wearing dentures immediately after a tooth extraction – hence the name “immediate dentures”. They won’t be your permanent set, though. Your dentist wants to make sure your forever dentures fit as comfortably as possible, but your gums change size as they heal, and any remaining teeth might shift. So they’ll outfit you with temporary dentures until they can get more accurate oral measurements. This set will be your immediate dentures.
Naturally, immediate dentures sound pretty convenient. However, there are some pros and cons you should be aware of:
- Pros: As noted, you won’t have to go without teeth at all if you opt for immediate dentures. This means you won’t be limited to soft, wet foods while you wait for your permanent set. Patients with client-facing jobs or social lifestyles also appreciate the confidence a toothy smile offers.
- Cons: You might have the ability to enjoy more foods and talk more freely with immediate dentures, but you’ll likely experience some discomfort. As you can imagine, trying to adjust to dentures while your gums are sore from tooth extraction can be difficult.
Basically, it’s worth checking in with your dentist to see if immediate dentures are a good option for you.
What to Expect if You Wait for Gums to Heal
Without immediate dentures, you’ll be waiting around six to eight weeks for your gums to recover from tooth extraction. That does mean going six to eight weeks with a restrictive diet and a gummy smile. But, of course, the payoff is a smoother transition once you do receive your permanent dentures. Overall, whether you want to wait for your permanent set or not is all about which advantages you prefer and what your dentist thinks is best.
How Dental Implants Affect the Timetable
There’s one more dental replacement possibility that could be impacted by a tooth extraction: dental implants. Since it’s crucial for dental implants to integrate with your jawbone, completing treatment already takes between three and six months. There are no such thing as immediate dental implants, so tooth extraction recovery could easily add another month or two to the process.
Keeping Your Eyes on The Prize
With all of that in mind, you might be wondering if dentures (or dental implants) are worth it. Simply put, yes! Whether you choose immediate dentures or a more natural method, you’ll experience some short-term inconvenience. Just remember that at the end of the road, there’s a beautiful smile and blissful oral comfort waiting for you.
About the Practice
Between the two of them, Drs. Kenneth Endres and Gunveen Chawla have your tooth replacement journey covered! Both specialize in restorative dental treatments such as dentures, and Dr. Endres is experienced in oral surgery, while Dr. Chawla knows her way around a dental implant. No matter what your replacement needs are, you’ll be in good hands! To contact their office, call 860-653-4551 or visit their website for more information.