Post-Operative Immediate Denture Instructions

For the first 24 hours your immediate denture(s) is not to be removed from your mouth. If the denture is removed, swelling may occur that will make it difficult or impossible to reinsert. If the denture absolutely must be removed for whatever reason, place it back in your mouth as soon as possible.

The day after your extractions, you must return to our office for a post-operative evaluation. The staff will evaluate your healing and make any necessary adjustments.

After your extractions, avoid any kind of sucking action that could dislodge blood clots (e.g., spitting, smoking, vaping, using a straw).  Do not rinse your mouth vigorously. To rinse, place the salt water or other medicament in your mouth and move your head side-to-side and front-to-back. Then hold your head over the sink and let the water fall from your mouth. Do not spit it out.  Avoid drinking hot or carbonated beverages. The purpose of these precautions is to prevent blood clots from being dislodged and exposing the bone.

Your immediate denture not only replaces your missing teeth, but it is acting to protect the surgical site, control swelling, and control bleeding. The denture needs to be in place to be effective.  YOU MUST NOT REMOVE YOUR IMMEDIATE DENTURES!  The dentures promote healing and prevent your bone from being deformed.  If your dentures cause so much pain that you cannot wear them, please call our office immediately as an adjustment may be needed.

The fit of your immediate denture will change and become looser as your mouth heals from the extractions. As healing takes place over the next few months, the dental ridges will shrink in size.  The looseness and movement of the denture will almost surely cause sore spots and will need to be adjusted and/or relined to compensate for the changes that take place. This may require several adjustment appointments. Remember that an immediate denture is only a temporary denture and will require replacement or reline once you are sufficiently healed

Denture adhesive will need to be used in order to keep the denture(s) in place as you heal. Try to avoid placing the adhesive in or close to the sockets that are healing. Try to keep the adhesive in the palate or any area that has already shown signs of healing.