When you have your teeth extracted, this is a huge change to your mouth. Unlike a small cut on your arm that will heal quickly, the removal of teeth leaves relatively large holes in your gums. These holes do not heal overnight. The question of when you’ll be ready for dentures is somewhat complicated as a result of this.
Healing
After your teeth have been extracted, the holes where they were will have clots of black, dried blood in them for a few days. Then the blood will dissolve, and you’ll see the holes where the teeth were. Once this happens, the healing process has begun. The spaces previously occupied by teeth are quite large, and they will take several weeks to months for the spaces to fill in and full healing to occur. After just the first couple of weeks, you should no longer experience any bleeding, and any discomfort you feel should be minimal.
Temporary dentures
When all of your natural teeth are missing, whether through extraction or coming out on their own, your jawbone will naturally shrink and shift. During the healing process, your gums may still be swollen, and the shrinking and shifting that takes place will also change the alignment of dentures. This means that any dentures made for you right now would need to be refitted in order to properly fit you when the healing process is done.
As a result, you may wear temporary, or immediate, dentures right after the extraction. These dentures allow you to eat and drink as usual, and may still need to be refitted during the healing process.
Temporary dentures are not a requirement, and if you find them uncomfortable or would prefer to go without them, you can. Most people prefer to use them for professional or social reasons, or simply because they don’t like the thought of being without teeth.
Permanent dentures
About four to six weeks after the extraction, you’ll return for a follow-up appointment to see how your gums are healing. If they’ve healed enough, the dentist will take a preliminary impression of your mouth to act as a guide for your new, permanent dentures. This will ensure that they are a good fit in your mouth, making them easier and more comfortable to wear.
Making the dentures can take about 30 days. You’ll then return to the dentist for the initial fitting. The dentures will be placed in your mouth and any adjustments necessary for a good fit will be made. You will likely need more appointments to make further adjustments to eliminate sore areas.