Immediate complete dentures.

When dentists treat patients for immediate complete dentures, they assume responsibility not only for the clinical and laboratory techniques unique to immediate complete denture fabrication, but also the responsibility for informing their patients about their treatment options, instructing their patients in the care of their oral tissues and dentures, and for continuing maintenance of the immediate dentures. Immediate dentures can be a traumatic introduction to complete dentures if patients are not informed fully about the complexity of the clinical and laboratory procedures, the need for immediate denture maintenance, and the costs associated with immediate denture treatment. The importance of 8 to 12 months of continuing care for immediate denture patients must be explained to patients and the dangers of neglecting continuing care must be emphasized.