How Dentures Can Make It Difficult To Enjoy Your Favorite Foods

Missing teeth can make it difficult for someone to enjoy their favorite foods. You might have thought your dentures would have solved this problem, and perhaps they did—just not as much as hoped. In terms of the functionality of dentures, it can be difficult to enjoy certain foods, and this is about more than your ability to chew. But how can dentures sometimes cause issues with eating, and what can you do about it?

Bite Pressure

Yes, dentures restore multiple missing teeth, but they aren't the most natural solution. Dentures are made up of prosthetic teeth, and for full dentures, this involves an entire upper or lower dental arch worth of teeth. These teeth are attached to a denture plate, which stays in place because it's designed to fit the precise contours of your mouth, creating suction that helps it to stay in position. The downside to dentures is your reduced bite pressure. It's simply impossible to bite into certain foods without jeopardizing the stability of your dentures.

Your Sense of Taste

In addition to this reduced bite pressure, you may have a diminished sense of taste. This is because an upper denture plate typically covers your palate (the roof of your mouth). While a great number of your taste receptors are located on your tongue, they're actually distributed throughout your mouth, with a high concentration on your palate. When an upper denture plate covers your palate, your ability to appreciate taste can be compromised. 

Implants and Dentures

Reduced bite pressure, a diminished sense of taste—these issues can be unavoidable with dentures, and in order to truly overcome these issues, you will need an alternative tooth replacement system. Talk to your dentist about an all-on-four dental implant. The dental implant procedure involves having four bolts installed in your upper or lower dental arch. These implants can then support an entire upper or lower denture, which is bonded to the implants once they have healed and integrated with your jaw. This can take several months, but your dentist is able to install a temporary prosthesis while this happens.

An all-on-four dental implant increases your bite pressure, as the denture is secured to the underlying implants. Additionally, the way in which the prosthesis is bonded means that it doesn't need a denture plate, so there's nothing covering your palate. This type of implant-supported denture increases the strength of your bite without disrupting any of your taste receptors. Reach out to a professional for more information about this dental implant procedure.