immediate denture or wait?

[scaredstiff]

I disagree slightly with the fact that immediates won't fit so well. At the beginning they should be perfect if the impressions are taken properly but they do lose their grip as your gums start shrinking but then you get reliners periodically until the time comes for you to have your permanents. Even so, I much preferred to have immediates and not be without teeth, even if they hadn't have fitted so well.
Make sure that your dentist gives you a total price. My dentist gave me the price of dentures which was fully inclusive of 2 reliners as and when needed. In the event, I never needed any adjustment at all to the top denture and over a period of 9 months just 3 reliners to the bottom. Normally you don't have to wait as long as 9 months for the perms. but I left it that long to make doubly sure my gums had got to where they were going and also because of timing and financial issues.

[DrMike]

Immediate dentures can vary considerably. The lab basically has to judge how they think the gums will be after the teeth are taken out, so it its by no means totally down to the impression taken- there is a bit of luck and skill required with what happens at the lab!
Some fit really well, and in fact do not need to be relined at all! Others do the job while the gums are healing for the 3 months, but need to be altered or replaced at the end of that time.
BTW we also tend to avoid the word 'permanent' now in dentistry. We prefer to say 'long term' for any treatment be it denture or filling or crown etc. Bascially permanent means forever, and sadly- nothing a dentist can provide for you can be expected to last forever! It may last a very long time- but that's not permanent! On average dentures should be replaced at least every 5 years or so due to changes in your gums and wearing of the teeth etc.