Modern dentures can be an excellent way to replace lost teeth because they often go completely unnoticed by casual observers while being incredibly comfortable. While eating with traditional dentures is far easier than eating without teeth, these removable appliances cannot bite with the same leverage as real teeth. Here’s why traditional dentures can limit your ability to chew and digest and how implant-supported dentures can be an improvement.
How Dentures Function Inside the Mouth
Natural front teeth can provide excellent biting force from opposing angles because they are securely fixed in their positions within the mouth, but traditional dentures are held in place by suction and denture adhesive. Since they lack the level of support that your natural teeth have, they have the potential to slip and slide out of place, making it difficult to take a good bite out of food. People wearing dentures may not always chew their food as thoroughly as they should, making extracting nutrients from it harder during the rest of the digestive process.
While the artificial back teeth can grind plant matter impressively, many people with dentures avoid tougher meats like steak, pork chops, or anything eaten off the bone because the muscle fibers are too hard to shred sufficiently. However, these foods can be handled more easily by cutting them into smaller bites or choosing softer cuts.
How Implant-Supported Dentures Can Help
Do you wish your dentures could have more stability in your mouth so you could eat the same foods you used to? Having your dentures supported with dental implants can restore a whole world of variety to your diet. Dental implants are titanium posts surgically placed in the jawbone, and placing four of them in a single arch can provide the anchors a denture needs to bring back the leverage to your bite. These implants also stimulate the jawbone, which can help prevent it from receding. Gone will be the days of worrying that your denture might slip or fall out while eating or speaking.
Implant-supported dentures can resolve many issues commonly experienced with traditional appliances while making it easier to get the nutrition you need to maintain good health. Consulting with your dentist can determine if you are a good candidate for dental implants and set you on a path to eating steak again in the future.
About the Author
Dr. Jennifer Reed earned her Doctor of Dental Surgery in 1991 from the University of Nebraska Medical Center College of Dentistry and earned her certificate of specialization in prosthodontics in 1993. She is an active member of the American Dental Association, the American Prosthodontic Society, and the American College of Prosthodontists. Her office in Lincoln, NE offers preventive, restorative, and cosmetic dentistry in addition to denture and dental implant treatments. If you’re curious about receiving implant-supported dentures, contact her office online or dial (402) 488-5007.
