Immediate Denture Instructions

The surgeon will insert the denture immediately following the surgery and will make any necessary adjustments at that time. He/she will also give you post-treatment instructions for the care of your mouth and denture. Additional instructions that may be helpful in adapting to your denture and maintaining your comfort in the immediate post-surgical phase follow:

1. Use ice applied extraorally (alternating approximately 20 minutes on, 10 minutes off) for the first several hours following the surgical procedure.

2. Take any antibiotic or pain medication as prescribed by the surgeon.

3. Leave the immediate denture in place for the first 24 hours after surgery. At that time, you may remove it, brush it gently with a soft toothbrush over a basin of water, rinse your mouth, and then immediately reinsert the denture. Repeat this procedure every 24 hours over the first three days. If you have any significant swelling, continue to keep the denture in and notify your surgeon if you are having a problem.

4. After the first three days, if you are not noticing swelling, you may remove the denture as you like for cleaning or rest of the tissues.

5. Note that after your surgery you should maintain your normal oral hygiene around any remaining teeth. Brushing your tongue will also help to keep your mouth clean and improve the environment for healing.

6. Maintain a soft diet for a few days following the surgery, and then gradually introduce other foods according to your comfort level. Remember that you should never bite into any food with your front teeth on any denture.

7. It is expected that we will need to adjust your new denture after the initial surgical phase. It is important that you report any areas of discomfort to us immediately as they occur so that we may treat problems in the early stages.

8. Finally, as this is an immediate denture, there will most likely be esthetic or functional changes that you may request for the final denture. Keep notes of your observations and communicate them to us. This will be most helpful in fabricating a final denture that will be both pleasing and comfortable for you.