I'm 4 days post having my top teeth all removed in the chair & an "immediate denture" installed. I'm majorly annoyed that the Dental Service wasn't able to do both jaws at the same time, but there you go, I have to go through this all over again in a couple of weeks for the bottom half, but anything is better than dealing with teeth all snapped off at gums and the rest in woeful condition and beggars can't be choosers (Govt. Service). I bought my own immediate dentures after being on a waiting list for 4 years I think it was.
Just be firm with your Dentist AND General Practitioner when it comes to pain relief as it IS entirely possible to stay relatively pain free, have everything ready for when you get home and get those tablets in before the pain hits and stick to the rigorous schedule set down by the meds.
Dentists can only prescribe a minimal number of tablets, and are very loathe to prescribe ones people get addicted to. I have a friend who is a Pharmacist and spoke to him at length about my pain management - Ibuprofen, for break-through pain when on heavier meds is great for tooth & gum pain, but I can't take it unfortunately.
My Doctor, who's known me for years and knows I'm anti-drugs/tablets, was happy to prescribe me Targin (Oxycodone 10mg) which is slow release oxycodone, so a very serious painkiller, AND I use Panadol or Oxyndone 5mg (same'ish' stuff as slow release) for any breakthrough pain. I also rely heavily on Senacot laxatives when taking painkillers.
For me, staying pain-free, being kind to yourself by watching lots of movies, relaxing AND sleeping as much as humanly possible (very easy to do with the Oxycodone it makes you drowsy).
Don't be alarmed when for the first few days (they told me to leave denture in untouched for 3 days/nights) it smells and tastes like something literlly died in your mouth and that odour/taste oozes out from deep under your dentures - I had eaten crushed hard-boiled eggs and yoghurt and the stench & taste for the first 3 days will never leave my memory. I removed denture after 24 hours swished warm salt water around my gums, used diluted mouthwash in spring water (we're on tank water & I won't risk bacteria) and I clean denture in spring water several times a day. Bizarrely I still get a very weird salty taste oozing out, despite rinsing with mouthwash and spring water extensively, so have no idea where that comes from.
I got lucky with my immediate denture maker it fits like a glove with good suction and I was speaking perfectly from the moment they went in my mouth. I will be avoiding adhesive pastes as much as possible. Eating ... I'm not going to cause myself any pain whatsoever whilst I still have a jaw full of gaping, stitched, sore as hell holes to deal with, learning to eat and chew can wait.
Immediate dentures can last for 5-10 years, same as "permanent ones" depending on who makes them, their level of care and expertise and for $2.5k I would expect an endless supply of that.
