Dentures have been a tried-and-true treatment for ages and are the popular solution for replacing missing teeth. However, they have their own cons, like limited chewing ability, due to the fact that they can slip and shift within the mouth. Fortunately, when anchored to dental implants, a new and leading-edge development in restorative dentistry, dentures have the ability to repair up to 80% of the original bite force, making them function like natural. As a result, you’ll find that you’re able to eat a greater variety of foods, ensuring you get the nutrients your body needs to thrive. Read on to learn how anchoring dentures to implants can improve your health and the connection between chewing force and nutrition.
Traditional Dentures & Their Effect on Bite Force
Traditional dentures are a popular treatment choice among countless patients, as they offer the ability to replace an entire row of missing teeth without breaking the bank. They’re comprised of a custom-fitted, gum-colored acrylic base that secures atop the gumline using natural suction. While this can be enough support to keep them in place while talking, chewing can be a different story.
A study published in the Journal of Prosthodontics in 2022 showed that traditional dentures can potentially negatively impact a person’s overall nutrition by limiting the diversity of foods they can easily eat. While this isn’t the case for all patients, it’s a possibility worth keeping in mind as you navigate your tooth replacement options.
Connecting Chewing Power with Nutrition
Your ability to easily chew food is going to naturally affect the types of foods you gravitate towards eating. In addition to this, your ability to break down those foods into smaller particles can affect how much of their vital nutrients your body is able to successfully digest. For denture wearers, chewing may not be as comfortable, leading to swallowing larger chunks of foods that aren’t as easily broken down by your stomach acid and salivary enzymes into molecules that can be used to fuel your cells.
Better Nutrition with Greater Stability
While dentures can be a fine option for some patients, there is a more lifelike and strong tooth replacement method out there, called dental implants. These are small titanium posts that are secured below the gumline and into the jawbone to restore the missing roots of teeth, offering a stable foundation for your dentures to be attached to. Once your prosthetic is secured to the implants, they’ll not only look completely natural, but also function like your home-grown teeth, helping you chew foods more easily, as well as diversifying your diet.
The choice between traditional and implant dentures is up to you, but understanding how they compare is important to making the best long-term decision for not only your smile, but also your body. With greater stability and up to 80% of your natural bite force restored, you’ll be able to munch through fresh vegetables, proteins, and a variety of other key ingredients in the food pyramid.
About the Author
Dr. Evan Pedersen graduated from Harvard School of Dental Medicine in Boston, where he obtained his dental degree. He has over a decade of experience in the field, as well as advanced training that allows him to offer multiple custom-tailored tooth replacement solutions, like dental implants and custom-crafted, perfectly-fitting dentures. For questions or to schedule a consultation, visit Oris Dental Studio’s website or call 512-777-0866.