Oral surgery is never something that a person looks forward to, but you don't have to dread the idea of walking out of the oral surgeon's office with a gummy grin. If your dentist has discussed extracting many or all of your remaining teeth, it's time to talk to him or her about the investment of temporary dentures prior to the procedure.
Temporary dentures are used to provide patients with an option for multiple extractions. The day you get your teeth extracted is the day you walk out with a set of dentures to conceal the loss of teeth.
How is it possible to get dentures made to fit when you still have teeth?
During the weeks leading up to your planned oral surgery, you'll visit a denturist who will make an impression of your mouth, choose a color for the teeth on the denture and begin the fitting work. He or she will work to get the temporary denture ready so that you have it on hand to take with you to the oral surgeon the day of your surgery.
What are the benefits of temporary dentures?
Not only will you look better as you recover from the surgery, but the dentures will help to expedite the healing process and make you more comfortable. The denture will cover the open wounds after the teeth are extracted. This will reduce the bleeding and the swelling that will occur otherwise.
Immediately after the surgeon completes the extraction, your denture is put in place. Once in place, you are not to remove the denture until you return to your surgeon or dentist for a follow-up exam. If you attempt to remove it without your surgeon, you may not be able to get it put back in place due to the swelling.
It can take weeks and/or months for your mouth to heal enough to get fitted for permanent dentures. This temporary denture can and should be worn as you await the day that you begin the process of having the new dentures made.
After your permanent dentures are complete, store the temporary dentures in a storage container filled with distilled water. Put the container in your refrigerator and remove, rinse and replace the water once a month. This way, you'll have a backup denture for when you need to get work done on the permanent denture.
Talk with your dentist and oral surgeon to learn more about how temporary dentures can help you.
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