The First 24 to 48 Hours
Keep Your Immediate Dentures in Place as Directed
During the first 24 to 48 hours, keep your immediate dentures in place according to your dentist's instructions. Removing them for an extended period during this early stage may allow swelling to develop and make reinserting the dentures difficult.
Atrium's patient care information recommends limiting removal to approximately 15 minutes or less during this initial period unless your dentist has instructed otherwise.
Follow all instructions from your dentist regarding bleeding, medication, oral hygiene and care of your extraction sites.
Swelling & Soreness
What to Expect During Early Healing
Swelling commonly reaches its peak approximately two to three days following extraction. Tenderness, sore areas and changes in how your dentures feel are also expected as your mouth begins to heal.
Your immediate dentures may initially feel large or unfamiliar. You may also notice changes in saliva, speech and eating as your tongue, cheeks and facial muscles adjust.
If discomfort becomes significant or does not improve, contact your dentist or Atrium Denture Clinic, depending on whether the concern relates to your surgical healing or the denture itself.
Eating After Extractions
Begin With Foods That Require Little or No Chewing
Start with foods that require little or no chewing, then gradually progress to softer foods as your comfort improves.
Avoid hot foods and beverages while your mouth remains numb because you may not accurately sense temperature. As healing progresses, gradually introduce other foods based on your comfort and your dentist's instructions.
Eating with immediate dentures is also a new skill. Take smaller bites, eat slowly and allow yourself time to adapt.
Cleaning Your Mouth & Dentures
Follow Your Dentist's Instructions During Early Healing
During the earliest stage of healing, follow the oral hygiene and cleaning instructions provided by your dentist. Your extraction sites need time to heal, so your normal denture-cleaning routine may temporarily need to change.
As healing progresses, Atrium will provide guidance for cleaning your immediate dentures and caring for the tissues underneath them.
Do not use regular toothpaste to clean your dentures. Many toothpastes are abrasive and can scratch the denture surface.
Follow-Up & Adjustments
Adjustments Are a Normal Part of the Process
Atrium recommends returning within several days following your extractions so Michael Watson DD can assess the fit and comfort of your immediate dentures.
As swelling decreases and your gums change, pressure areas and sore spots may develop. Adjustments can be made as needed to help accommodate these changes.
Do not attempt to file, reshape or adjust your dentures yourself. Contact Atrium if an area becomes uncomfortable or your dentures no longer feel right.
Changes During Healing
Your Mouth Changes, Your Dentures Do Not
Immediate dentures are created before your natural teeth are removed. Following extraction, your gums and supporting bone begin changing as part of the normal healing process, while the dentures retain their original shape.
As swelling decreases and healing progresses, spaces can develop beneath the dentures. This may cause them to become increasingly loose or unstable even if they fit appropriately when first inserted.
Temporary liners and adjustments may be recommended during this period to help maintain comfort and fit.
Temporary Liners
Maintaining Comfort While Your Mouth Heals
Temporary lining materials may be added to the inside of your immediate dentures as your gums and supporting tissues change. These materials can help improve fit and comfort during the healing period.
Because your mouth continues to change, additional adjustments or liners may be required before your tissues become sufficiently stable for longer-term treatment.
After Your Mouth Has Healed
Moving Toward a More Stable Denture Fit
Atrium's patient information indicates that the mouth generally becomes more stable at approximately six months following extraction.
At this stage, a permanent reline and bite adjustment may be recommended. If your immediate dentures were intended to be temporary, this may instead be the appropriate time to begin creating your permanent dentures.
Your individual healing process and treatment plan will determine the appropriate next step.
When to Contact Atrium
Know When Your Dentures Need Attention
Contact Atrium Denture Clinic if you experience persistent denture-related soreness, increasing movement, significant changes in fit, difficulty inserting your dentures, or cracks or other damage.
Concerns related specifically to your extraction sites or surgical healing should be directed to the dentist who performed your extractions.
A Final Reminder
Give Yourself Time to Heal & Adapt
Immediate dentures allow you to transition directly from natural teeth to dentures, but healing and adapting take time. Changes in fit, comfort, eating and speech are expected throughout the process.
Follow your dentist's post-surgical instructions, attend your recommended follow-up appointments and contact Atrium whenever your dentures require attention.
