Life with Dentures: How Long Should You Leave Your Immediate Dentures Out?

Dentures are oral devices for replacing missing teeth. They work best for patients with more than three missing teeth in a row. Depending on how urgently you need to have your teeth replaced, you can have either immediate or customized dentures.

What Is the Difference?

Immediate dentures are readily available so that you do not have to go a single day without your teeth. Customized dentures, however, need time to be designed and tailored to your particular needs. Patients who opt for customized dentures get to learn about different types of dentures available in dentistry.

​Three Main Types of Dentures

There are many types of dentures you can opt for in dentistry depending on your needs and preferences. The types include the following:

• Partials are a type of dentures that replace a few teeth in your mouth. As long as you have several other remaining teeth intact, you are suited for partials.
• Complete traditional dentures are the most common types of dentures, featuring artificial teeth for replacing all of your teeth. You must be toothless to qualify for these types of dentures.
• Implant overdentures are also called implant-supported or hybrid dentures. They entail getting tooth implants surgically installed in your jawbone first. Afterward, a partial or complete denture can be fixed over the implants. If you receive smaller implants than the standard size of dental implants, your artificial teeth will be called mini dentures.

How to Choose Affordable Dentures

From the three main types of dentures, the best way to choose the right type of denture is to consider the features of dentures relative to your dental expectations. Some factors you just consider include:

• The time it takes to get them – immediate dentures do not require weeks for preparation before you can get them. As soon as you lose your natural teeth, you can get immediate dentures. Ultimately, the longer it takes to have your dentures prepared, the more likely they are expensive.
• The number of procedures necessary before getting dentures – the most affordable dentures do not require many dental protocols to install them. Once you get the appropriate size of dentures, you are ready to go. However, other types like hybrid dentures require surgery to install dental implants before getting dentures.
• Materials used to make your dentures – when getting your dentures customized, you may have preferences regarding the materials used for the gum-like base and the artificial teeth. Some dental materials are costlier than others.

Adjusting to A Life with Dentures

After losing your natural teeth, your life will never be the same again. The changes you incur in your oral cavity will mark a different experience for you, even after a restorative treatment to replace your teeth.

Life with Dentures is different from life with natural teeth. Although they may look and feel like natural teeth, they are still foreign additions to your oral cavity. Learning to adjust accordingly can help you enjoy a smooth transition.

Dealing with Removable Dentures

If your dentures are not permanently fixed to implants, it means they are removable. At any time you want, you can remove them. Your dentist will advise against removing your dentures for the first few days after getting them. The reason is that your dentist needs to identify any issues you may face with dentures, which is only possible if you keep your dentures on for a prolonged period. It means you need to wear your dentures throughout, both day and night, for a couple of days.

The period will allow your dentist to observe the state of your mouth, checking for any anomalies, including mouth sores, blisters, to mention a few ill-fitting signs of dentures. Afterward, you can remove your dentures as frequently as you wish.

Dealing With Fixed Dentures

Although your dentures may be permanently fixed to your implants, you still need to adjust to using dentures. The first few days will also be for observation and monitoring, this time to check the sturdiness of the dentures relative to the functionality of your mouth. Any signs of ill-fitting dentures are also identified during these first few days.