How Long Can I Expect to Wear My Interim Dentures?

When missing teeth plague your oral health, dentures offer a way back from the brink. Approximately 36 million people don’t have any teeth, and 15% of them get fitted for dentures every year. 

But dentures aren’t created overnight. 

That’s why Jason Alsbury, LD, and our team at Apex Denture Studio specialize in crafting interim (you may also hear them called temporary or immediate) dentures. 

This blog answers some of your most pressing questions about interim dentures and what you can expect from the process. 

Starting with the basics

We place interim dentures in your mouth right after dental implant surgery or a tooth extraction. They allow you to avoid living with missing teeth while waiting for your permanent dentures. 

Our patients love interim dentures because they look, feel, and function like natural teeth and make the waiting process much easier to cope with.

What to expect

Interim dentures may be temporary, but they’re not inferior. You typically wear interim dentures for 6-8 months, depending on how quickly it takes to make your permanent dentures. They aren't as customized as your permanent dentures, so expect some movement. 

We may also need to periodically adjust and reline your interim dentures as your mouth heals from your extraction or surgery and the swelling subsides. 

With proper care and a solid oral health routine, interim dentures can last as long as permanent dentures — in fact, some grow accustomed to their temporary dentures and opt out of permanent dentures to save money and avoid another readjustment phase. Others keep their interim dentures as a backup set. 

Keep in mind that interim dentures require regular adjustments if you decide to keep them. 

Caring for your interim dentures

Interim dentures don’t come with a long list of home care instructions, but that doesn’t mean they’ll take care of themselves. 

To keep your interim dentures in tip-top shape and support your oral health, we recommend the following:

• Keep them in for the first 24 hours following your surgery to help control bleeding
• Remove your dentures after 24 hours and care for the surgery site
• Remove dentures after every meal to clean them 

We also strongly encourage you to see us regularly for dental checkups. Furthermore, if your interim dentures break or get damaged, you should see us as soon as possible to have them fixed. Leaving them with imperfections can affect how they fit and cause uncomfortable issues. 

If you have more questions about what to expect from interim dentures, don’t hesitate to call our friendly staff at 509-204-8305 or use our online booking tool to schedule an appointment. We proudly serve patients in the Yakima and Richland, Washington, areas.