Understanding Immediate Dentures and How They Work: A Complete Guide for Spokane Patients

For many adults exploring dentures for the first time, the idea of living without teeth during the healing period can feel overwhelming. At Grishin Denture Specialist in Spokane, WA, we often meet patients who ask whether it’s possible to walk into an extraction appointment and walk out with a full, natural-looking smile. The answer is yes. Immediate dentures make it possible to maintain your appearance, protect healing tissues, and avoid the emotional challenges of going without teeth.

Immediate dentures are custom-fabricated before tooth removal using precise impressions, bite records, and facial measurements. This planning allows us to insert the dentures right after the extractions, giving you a complete smile from day one. For anyone searching for dentures near me, dentures Spokane, or affordable dentures Spokane, this approach provides a smoother, more confident transition into tooth replacement.

What Are Immediate Dentures?

Immediate dentures are temporary prosthetic teeth placed on the same day your natural teeth are extracted. They are designed to:

• Preserve your smile

• Maintain facial shape

• Protect healing gums

• Support speech and eating

• Provide confidence during a sensitive time

Because they are made in advance, immediate dentures rely on impressions of your natural teeth and gums before extraction. Once inserted, your mouth will continue to heal and shrink, which is why follow-up adjustments and relines are essential for comfort.

Why We Use Traditional Craftsmanship for Immediate Dentures

While some clinics rely heavily on digital scanning or 3D printing systems, we’ve found through years of clinical testing that traditional alginate impressions give far more accurate details—especially for patients needing immediate dentures after extractions. 3D scanners struggle with undercuts, soft tissue movement, and moisture variations, whereas traditional materials adapt beautifully to anatomical changes and produce highly accurate prosthetics.

This matters even more for immediate dentures, where a secure initial fit dramatically improves healing and comfort.

Collaborative Care With Spokane’s Trusted Oral Surgeons

Successful immediate dentures depend on excellent communication with the oral surgeon performing the extractions. We work closely with Dr. Chad P. Collins, DMD, at The Center for Oral Surgery—a respected specialist known for gentle, precise extractions and predictable results.

However, you are never limited to one provider. Whether you already have a surgeon you trust or need a referral, we coordinate with any oral surgeon in Spokane, Spokane Valley, Cheney, Deer Park, or Liberty Lake to ensure your treatment is seamless.

This coordination includes:

• Surgical timing

• Denture placement instructions

• Anchoring and tissue support

• Post-extraction fit management

• Pain/comfort considerations

This team-based approach ensures a smooth transition from surgery to same-day denture placement, with no delays or miscommunication.

Benefits of Choosing Immediate Dentures

Immediate dentures offer several advantages for patients who want to maintain their appearance and function throughout the healing process.

1. Leave the Office With a Smile

You never have to experience a period without teeth. This is especially reassuring for patients who are active socially or professionally.

2. Protect Healing Tissues

Immediate dentures act like a natural bandage, reducing:

• Swelling

• Bleeding

• Irritation from external debris

• Discomfort at the surgical sites

3. Maintain Facial Appearance

Tooth loss can create a sunken appearance almost immediately. Same-day dentures help preserve lip support and facial structure from day one.

4. Faster Adaptation

Since you begin wearing dentures immediately, your muscles and speech patterns adjust more quickly.

The Process: How Immediate Dentures Are Made and Delivered

Step 1: Comprehensive Consultation

We perform a detailed examination, take impressions, record your bite, and evaluate your smile shape and facial proportions. These measurements guide the fabrication of your temporary denture.

Step 2: Surgical Coordination

We collaborate directly with your oral surgeon—whether it’s Dr. Chad Collins or another trusted provider—to finalize extraction timing and denture placement instructions.

Step 3: Same-Day Denture Placement

Immediately after extraction, your dentures are inserted. You leave with a complete smile and protected surgical sites.

Step 4: Adjustments During Healing

Because gums shrink rapidly during the first 8–12 weeks, we perform:

• Multiple soft relines

• Bite adjustments

• Pressure spot relief

• Transition planning for your permanent denture

Your comfort remains our top priority throughout the recovery period.

Healing and Aftercare for Immediate Dentures

Healing after extractions typically takes about 2–3 months. Because immediate dentures are placed before the gums fully heal, they naturally loosen as swelling decreases and tissues reshape.

During this time, we provide:

• Soft relines to maintain comfort

• Polishing to keep surfaces smooth

• Adjustment visits as needed

Once healing stabilizes, we complete a permanent reline or fabricate a new well-fitting denture based on your fully healed anatomy.

Immediate vs. Conventional Dentures: What’s the Difference?

Feature	Immediate Dentures	Conventional Dentures
Timing	Same day as extractions	After full healing (8–12 weeks)
Aesthetic Gap	None	Temporary period without teeth
Fit Stability	Changes as gums heal	Most stable long-term fit
Cost	Slightly higher due to relines	Typically lower
Comfort	Protects healing tissues	Feels most natural once healed

Immediate dentures are ideal for patients who value appearance and comfort immediately after extractions and are willing to attend follow-up visits.

A Spokane Lifestyle Perspective

Many Spokane-area patients work active jobs, speak frequently for work, or maintain busy social lives. Immediate dentures help these individuals maintain confidence and functionality without the emotional stress of going without teeth. Combined with Spokane’s dry climate—which can make healing slightly more sensitive—having a denture in place offers both practical and emotional support during the transition.

Conclusion

Same-day dentures allow Spokane patients to restore their smiles immediately after extractions—no waiting, no gaps, and no loss of confidence. By working hand-in-hand with experienced oral surgeons like Dr. Chad P. Collins, DMD and any specialist you choose, we ensure your treatment is seamless, safe, and customized to your needs.

Whether you’re exploring dentures for the first time or have worn them for years, one thing remains true: a great fit changes everything. From confident smiles to comfortable meals, the right dentures make life better. At Grishin Denture Specialist, we help patients across Spokane, Spokane Valley, Cheney, Deer Park, and Liberty Lake rediscover comfort with affordable dentures in Spokane that feel natural and fit like they should. If your dentures slip or click or cause soreness, Denturist Michael Grishin —a trusted denturist near me—can fine-tune your fit with a reline, adjustment, or a beautifully crafted new set of dentures in Spokane.

For a closer look at how acidic drinks cause denture staining and weaken acrylic, explore our full guide right here.

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