When you’re missing teeth, it can be extremely difficult to eat a nutritious diet, because many healthy foods like lean proteins, fresh fruits and vegetables, and even nuts and seeds are difficult to chew without a full arch. But what happens if you replace those teeth with dentures? Are these durable, lifelike prosthetics good enough to keep you feeling strong? Here’s what you can expect from these prosthetics, and why upgrading to implant dentures may keep you even healthier!
Dentures and Biteforce
When you are missing teeth, you lose what is known as biteforce. This is how much your jaw can chew. With a full set of healthy teeth, your biteforce is at full capacity, and can reach 162 psi (pounds per square inch). Unfortunately, however, when you’re missing teeth, this number can be dramatically reduced. In fact, because you don’t have teeth, the pressure must be transferred to your gums and jawbone, which can cause pain and permanent deterioration over time.
With dentures, your biteforce can rebound to about 50 psi, which while it is an improvement, is about one third of what your real teeth would be capable of. Often, this means you must puree foods or eat them prepared differently so they are easier to chew. Worse still, in the process of doing this, a lot of the nutrients may be lost.
The Benefits of Implant Dentures
If you are missing all your permanent teeth, implant dentures are an excellent solution. Not only do they look and feel natural, but they also provide far greater biteforce than traditional dentures. In fact, with these prosthetics, you can expect to enjoy up to an 80 to 90 percent restoration of your original bite strength. This means that you can easily chew a wide variety of nutritious, delicious foods that you may have had to stop eating with missing teeth or traditional dentures.
Do I Qualify for Implant Dentures?
If you have a strong jawbone and are committed to caring for your oral health, you could be an excellent candidate for implant dentures. The best way to determine this is to schedule a consultation with your dentist. At this appointment, they will examine your jaw and mouth and recommend any preliminary treatment. For most implant dentures, you’ll need four to eight posts per arch, but your dentist will determine how many will work best for you at your exam.
Unlike traditional prosthetics, implant dentures are permanent, so only your dentist can remove them. They look and feel just like real teeth, and because they are anchored to your jawbone, they allow you to eat a wider variety of foods than old fashioned restorations do. This in turn allows you to maintain a healthier diet and avoid things like indigestion and malnutrition.
Remember, while traditional dentures will provide some restoration of your original biteforce, the best way to permanently improve your oral and overall health is with the help of implant dentures. To learn more about this treatment and to see if your smile qualifies, see your dentist for a consultation today.
About Our Practice
At D&G Dental of West Orange, our dental team wants you to live a healthy, happy life. If your nutrition is suffering due to the loss of one or more permanent teeth, dentures or implant dentures could be the answer. To learn more about these treatments and to see if you qualify, schedule a consultation with us today by visiting our website or calling us at 973-731-2200.