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Extractions and Dentures in the Same Day: Are You a Candidate?

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Medically Reviewed By Colgate Global Scientific Communications

Feel you’re never fully dressed without a smile? But you’re scheduled to have your teeth pulled and your dentures won’t be ready for six weeks?

To fill the gap in time – and in your mouth – teeth removal and denture insertion on the same day could let you dress up with a smile without missing a beat. Before you commit to the same-day extraction-and-dentures process, learn what to expect as well as the pros and cons. Plus, find out if you’d be a good candidate for immediate dentures.

What Are Immediate Dentures?

If you want to walk into your dental office to have your teeth extracted and walk out the same day with a brand new smile, immediate dentures can come to your rescue. Also known as temporary dentures, these prosthetics can benefit you after your extraction and before your permanent dentures are ready.

Your temporary dentures can be ready for you immediately after your teeth extraction if you're willing to go through a four-five visit process with your dental professionals, notes The University of Iowa College of Dentistry and Dental Clinics. Here’s what to expect during the extraction-and-temporary dentures process:

  1. If advised, your oral surgeon will typically extract your back molars weeks before pulling the rest of your teeth. Then, by the time you receive your temporary dentures, these sections of your gums will have healed.
  2. Your dental professional will take bite impressions, measure the dimensions of your mouth, and assess your tooth shade.
  3. Based on the information gathered, your dental pro will create your temporary dentures to mimic the shape and color of your natural teeth (or tooth).
  4. After your teeth extraction, you’ll be fitted for permanent dentures. Then, you’ll receive your already prepared temporary dentures.
  5. You can keep smiling while your permanent dentures are created.

Immediate Dentures: Pros and Cons

Advantages await if you receive immediate dentures post-extraction, but some potential disadvantages are associated with immediate dentures.

Pros

  • Protecting extraction sockets and reducing bleeding during the healing process
  • Preventing jaw atrophy and taking care of other oral issues
  • Eliminating the extended gap of time without teeth
  • Avoiding any self-consciousness and awkward social occasions
  • Maintaining your self-esteem and your current lifestyle
  • Allowing adjustments to eating, talking, and carrying on with life with dentures sooner rather than later

Cons

  • Paying extra costs for basically two sets of dentures
  • Experiencing discomfort as temp dentures might loosen over time as gums heal and shrink
  • Making multiple dental appointments both before and after receiving temp dentures, especially as if they need refitting as gums heal and shrink
  • Not seeing how the dentures will look before placement

Did you know? If you find yourself without teeth, know that you’re not alone. The Journal of the American Dental Association (JADA) reports total tooth loss among nearly 10 percent of adults age 65 or older, with more than 33 percent of adults in that age group having lost six or more teeth. And 32 percent of adults age 18-64 have lost teeth.

Are You a Candidate for Immediate Dentures?

Even if immediate dentures seem to be a good fit for you, they might not be a suitable option. According to studies in the Journal of Research in Dentistry and the International Journal of Scientific Research, this might be due to the complexity of the treatment or if additional oral procedures are needed.

Your dentist, your oral surgeon, and your other dental professionals will consider these factors before preparing for you to get immediate dentures after extraction:

  • Your age
  • Your emotional health and mental state
  • Certain oral health conditions, including an unbalanced bite, bone loss, or acute gum disease
  • Your physical health, including if you’re:
    • Dealing with a debilitating disease,
    • Undergoing radiation or chemotherapy treatment
    • Experiencing blood clotting or cardiac issues

If you need any teeth removed but want to maintain a seamless smile and tooth function, getting extractions and dentures at the same time might be a viable solution. Even though it might be what you wear from ear to ear that matters, know what to expect, what the pros and cons are, and what your dental professionals say before committing to the same-day procedure.

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This article is intended to promote understanding of and knowledge about general oral health topics. It is not intended to be a substitute for professional advice, diagnosis or treatment. Always seek the advice of your dentist or other qualified healthcare provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition or treatment.

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