Same-day dentures, also called immediate dentures, are fitted on the same day your teeth are removed, so you never leave the chair without teeth. Conventional dentures are fitted several weeks later, once your gums have healed and settled into their final shape. Same-day dentures suit people who don't want to be seen without teeth, while conventional dentures generally fit more accurately from the start because they are made to a healed mouth. Both are common, well-established options in Australian dental practice, and the right one depends on your health, your extraction sites, and how much adjustment you're prepared to go through.
Key Takeaways
- Same-day (immediate) dentures go in on extraction day; conventional dentures are fitted weeks later once gums heal.
- Conventional dentures generally fit more precisely because they are built to a stable, healed mouth.
- Immediate dentures usually need several soft relines in the first year as the gums and bone continue to change shape.
- A full upper and lower conventional denture can cost up to roughly $4,000 in Australia, according to Australian Dental Association fee data, with a single arch running up to around $2,200.
- Immediate dentures often work out to cost more over time due to the extra reline and adjustment visits.
- Neither type is truly permanent. Most dentures need relining or remaking every five to eight years as the jawbone reshapes.
How each type works
Same-day (immediate) dentures
With this approach, your dentist takes measurements and impressions before your remaining teeth are extracted, then the denture is made in advance so it can be fitted immediately after the extractions, in the same appointment. The obvious advantage is that you're never without visible teeth. The trade-off is that the denture is built on a prediction of how your gums will heal, not their final healed shape, so it tends to feel looser as swelling goes down over the following weeks and months.
Conventional dentures
Here, teeth are removed first and the gums are given time, usually around six to eight weeks at minimum, to heal and stabilise before impressions are taken for the final denture. Because the denture is fitted to the mouth in its resting, healed state, it typically sits more accurately and needs fewer early adjustments. The downside is the waiting period without a denture, or with only a basic temporary appliance in the meantime.
Same-day vs conventional dentures compared
| Factor | Same-day (immediate) dentures | Conventional dentures |
|---|---|---|
| When fitted | Same day as extractions | Roughly 6 to 8+ weeks after extractions |
| Initial fit | Looser as swelling settles, needs adjustment | More accurate, fitted to a healed mouth |
| Relining needs | Typically 2 to 4 soft relines in the first year | Fewer early relines, usually reline after several years |
| Time without teeth | None | Weeks, unless a temporary appliance is used |
| Typical AU cost pattern | Often higher overall due to extra reline visits | Full set up to around $4,000; single arch up to around $2,200 |
| Best suited to | Front teeth extractions, people who need to keep working and socialising, those who want continuity of appearance | Patients comfortable with a healing period, those wanting the most accurate long-term fit |
Cost figures reflect general Australian Dental Association fee guidance for conventional full dentures and can vary by clinic, materials, and the number of extractions involved. For a broader cost breakdown across all denture types, see our dentures cost guide.
Who tends to do better with which option
In my experience, same-day dentures suit patients who are having their remaining front teeth removed and don't want a visible gap, people with jobs that involve a lot of public-facing work, and anyone who finds the idea of being without teeth for weeks unmanageable. Conventional dentures tend to suit patients who can take some time to heal before committing to a final denture, want the most accurate fit from day one, and would rather do fewer adjustment visits later. Some patients also do a hybrid approach, starting with an immediate denture and having it relined or remade once healing is complete, which effectively blends both paths.
If you've already worn a flipper tooth or a similar temporary appliance for a single missing tooth, the same healing logic applies at a larger scale with full or partial dentures. Our article on flipper teeth and temporary partial dentures covers the single-tooth version of this same-day-vs-wait decision.
Relining and long-term maintenance
Whichever path you choose, your jawbone continues to reshape after tooth loss, particularly in the first year. That means dentures of any kind, immediate or conventional, typically need periodic relining to keep fitting well, and most dentures are remade or significantly refitted every five to eight years. Immediate dentures front-load more of that adjustment into the first 12 months because they were made before healing was complete.
Common questions
Do same-day dentures hurt more than conventional ones?
Discomfort mostly comes from the extraction sites healing, not the denture type itself. Immediate dentures can feel tighter or rub more in the first few weeks as swelling changes, which is normal and manageable with adjustments.
Can I switch from an immediate denture to a conventional one later?
Yes. Many patients wear an immediate denture through the healing period, then have it relined or replaced with a more precisely fitted denture once the gums have settled, usually a few months later.
How many times will an immediate denture need relining?
Most patients need somewhere around two to four soft relines in the first year, though this varies by how much the gum and bone shape changes during healing.
Are same-day dentures more expensive overall?
They can work out costing more over time once you factor in the extra reline and adjustment appointments compared with a conventional denture made after healing.
Is one option better if I'm only missing a few teeth?
For a smaller gap, a partial denture or a flipper tooth may be more appropriate than a full denture. Full and immediate dentures usually apply when most or all teeth in an arch are being removed.
Will insurance or Medicare help cover the cost?
Denture cover depends on your private health fund and level of extras cover. Medicare generally does not cover routine denture costs for adults. It's worth checking your policy directly, and our guide on dental cover in Australia explains how extras policies typically work.
Next step
Deciding between same-day and conventional dentures usually comes down to your extraction plan, your gum health, and how much you can adjust your schedule around a healing period. The Lumi Dental team can walk through both options and what they'd mean for your mouth specifically. Check current deals or book in with the general dentists at Melrose Park for a personalised plan.
