If dentures were to be pictured in your mind, the image would probably show something that sits in a cup beside the sink and belongs to your grandma. Nevertheless, temporary dentures are distinct from that, and they are not only for the elderly. Eventually, temporary dentures are the best solution for those who have undergone teeth transformation, no matter what stage they are in.
If you have pulled a tooth recently, temporary dentures will be very helpful to you. On the other hand, if you are still at the planning stage of your Hollywood smile makeover, be aware that temporary dentures are an indispensable link in the chain of the journey. These little performers from Lema Dental Clinic in Istanbul, Turkey, are the door-opener to a process that turns days into beautiful veneers, dental implants, and a smile that is red carpet worthy.
What Is a Temporary Denture?
Temporary dentures, or “interim dentures” or “healing dentures,” are only meant to provide a temporary solution to missing teeth. Just for a short period of time, generally a few weeks to a few months, is the optimal duration for the use of temporary dentures as opposed to permanent ones or implants.
Temporary dentures act as fillers of the space where the missing teeth have been. These are made of acrylic, which is a lightweight material, and although they are not for long-term use, they are custom-designed to resemble the teeth of the user.
The replacement of your smile, while your mouth is healing, or permanent dental work is being fabricated, these dentures are the ones. A temporary tattoo is the closest analogy to them as you can think of it; a temporary tattoo is the one you wear while you are waiting for your real tattoo—you can see it and it looks good for now, but it is not meant to last forever.
Why Are Temporary Dentures Used?
Breaking it down in detail, temporary dentures are used to cover medical and aesthetic aspects. To begin with, temporary dentures wrap around the extraction site in a very protective fashion and thus are the right way to promote healing. Once a tooth is removed, your gums and jawbone undergo a healing process. If the patient is fitted with a permanent implant too soon, the whole healing process can be derailed. In that way, dentists usually wait, and temporary dentures step in to do their job during the period.
Next, these small lifesavers avoid the scenario of smelly situations. Getting your front tooth extracted and walking toothless for months may be hard to imagine, but it’s the thing you’d be most worried about. Temporary dentures, while a long-term restoration is on the way, keep your smile from fading away.
That’s not all. Temporary dentures, additionally, allow the patient to:
- Facilitate the normal process of speech
- Make the process of eating more accessible
- Stop the adjacent teeth from relocating
- Keep the face shape and provide the necessary support for the lips and cheeks
A majority of the patients at Lema Dental Clinic usually get temporary dentures as their first option, and then the treatment they desired most, like veneers or dental implants, finds them just a step away. The smile evolution process is the way to go!
What Are the Different Types of Temporary Dentures?
Temporary dentures do not come in one type that fits all cases. It means that depending on your dental condition, your dentist might advise you on one of the following:
1. Flipper Dentures
They are mostly small, aesthetically removable partial dentures. A flipper denture, if only one or two front teeth are missing, can be compared to a retainer as it snaps into place and is barely noticeable.
Flipper dentures are a must-have for young ones, and they are very budget-friendly. They come with the advantage of being very light and easy to remove and insert, but it should always be remembered that they are vulnerable and not meant for cutting hard food.
2. Immediate Dentures
Such dentures are installed straight after tooth extraction—sometimes even on the very day! So, you will never have to experience the discomfort of the dental chair with a gap in your smile.
Immediate dentures allow you to skip the “toothless stage” quickly and maintain the normal appearance and function of your mouth while healing. But as your gums and bones shrink during the recovery phase, these dentures mostly need some adjustments.
3. Partial Temporary Dentures
These are suitable for those who still have some teeth in the mouth. They are uniquely designed to hold the remaining teeth and close the empty spaces that are due to missing teeth.
They are more reliable than flippers and allow for deeper chewing. At Lema Dental Clinic, these are usually combined with treatment plans that involve dental implants or bridges in the future.
4. Complete Temporary Dentures
If your teeth are all gone from the top or the bottom (or both!), a complete temporary denture can be fabricated to bring back your whole smile. These are typically utilized during the waiting period for implant-supported dentures or full arch restorations.
Complete temporary dentures provide you with the ability to eat, speak, and feel without hesitation while your oral cavity is healing or until your permanent denture, made of your custom materials, is ready.
What Should Be Done After Temporary Denture Surgery?
The insertion of a temporary denture normally comes as a shock treatment to your mouth after a tooth extraction procedure, which means the new denture will take care of you in a little while.
What you should do:
- Relax. Don’t overwork yourself. Slow down for a couple of days and let your body do the rest.
- Eat only soft food. Some great examples are: yogurt, mashed potatoes, soups, and smoothies. No crunchy snacks yet!
- Rinse your mouth with saltwater. A gentle wash with warm salted water should be done after the first 24 hours to help clean the area.
- Do not allow your tongue to touch the wound. Your tongue will be eager to touch the wound, but do not let it do so, as it can prolong the healing process.
- Make sure to abide by your dentist’s directions. Definitely yes. At Lema Dental Clinic, the aftercare stage is part of the package that is fully dedicated to your smooth healing.
A little bit of pressure or discomfort is expected at the beginning, but in case of severe pain or if the denture does not fit well, you should make an appointment for a contact visit. During the healing process, temporary dentures might have to be changed to fit the reshaped gums.
How to Care for Temporary Dentures?
If you want to keep your temporary dentures clean and functional well while you wait for your final smile, then caring for them should be your top priority.
Pro Tips for Denture Care:
- Remove them at night. Gums need oxygen, and thus, sleeping with dentures can be the cause of infections.
- Brush daily. However, regular toothpaste is not allowed—it’s too abrasive! Just use a soft-bristle brush and denture cleaner.
- Rinse after eating. Leftover food and bacteria can cause odor and destruction of the material.
- Soak them overnight. Use a denture-cleaning solution or water of your choice to keep them from drying and avoid deformation.
- Never use hot water. It may alter the denture’s shape, causing it to become loose.
Hygiene at its best is very critical. Apart from a dirty denture that does not smell, it can also be the primary cause of gum disease, mouth ulcers, and more.
Dental Implants in Turkey
Several people actually opt to have dental implants as their permanent solution after the recovery phase is over. Dental implants come from Lema Dental Clinic in Istanbul, and Turkey is ranked among the most attractive places for such a procedure. The combination of super excellent care, reasonable prices, and advanced technology makes patients happy.
Implants for missing teeth are fixed inside the jaw and perform like the roots of natural teeth. They are supported by anchors that guarantee stability and longevity; in addition, the owners of implants can wear crowns, bridges, or even full dentures.
Hollywood Smile in Turkey
A temporary denture may have been a starting point only for a bigger change, such as a full-blown Hollywood Smile to become. The absolute makeover embraces whitening, veneers, implants, and custom smile design to turn you into a star with lights of your own.
Over 1 year, Lema Dental Clinic has been the first choice of 1000s of international patients for their Hollywood Smile treatments. The team is 100% present from consultation to completion, thus delivering their clients perfect results that are red carpet-ready.
Porcelain Veneers in Turkey
The decision for porcelain veneers will be made only after your temporary dentures have been removed. At that time, veneers can be installed on the front of your natural teeth to give you a perfect smile. They will fix the discoloration, gaps, fractures, and shape issues, thus giving you a fabulous smile that you have always dreamed of.
And the icing on the cake? It is the case in Istanbul, where you can have a level-best dental solution and a fabulous time traveling at the same time.
Frequently Asked Questions About Temporary Dentures
A temporary tooth may last several weeks to months it depending on the maintenance and the healing of the mouth.
That is the time when your permanent restoration will be ready, and a temporary tooth usually remains at the site for about 1 to 3 months.
A temporary denture or tooth is usually made in 1–3 days; some places, like Lema, offer a solution for the same day as well.
The discomfort caused by an ill-fitting temporary tooth, along with the gum irritation and the delay of healing, usually makes the person unhappy. Therefore, you must always visit the clinic if you feel that it is off.
As they are short-term, temporary dentures are usually replaced after a few months with permanent solutions such as implants or bridges.
