Obtaining Proper Nutrition: Disadvantages of Removable Dentures

Digestion begins in the mouth, with the teeth and mouth working together to break down food.  While dentures may be considered a replacement for teeth, they do not have the same chewing strength and function as normal teeth.  Dentures, unfortunately, can greatly decrease a person’s ability to chew food, which, in turn decreases digestive efficiency and increases the possibility of malnutrition.

When compared to natural teeth, statistics indicate that there is 32% less chewing efficiency with replacements in the form of dentures.   The average bite force in the first molar area (chewing teeth), registered 150 to 250 PSI (pounds per square inch) with electronic strain gauge studies with natural teeth.  This is in comparison to replacement dentures registering at 50 PSI in the first year of tooth loss. This loss in biting and chewing efficiency progressively drops to 4 to 10 PSI after 10 years. In other words, dentures can only partially restore chewing function and that function will continue to decrease over time.

What about “Partial Dentures?”

Removable partial dentures are dentures that are supported with hooks or clasps to surrounding teeth.  While they are an alternative to full dentures in some cases, a patient still faces many of the same challenges and potential problems.  In addition to speech and taste inhibition and bone loss associated with full dentures, there is also the possibility of increased decay and mobility of the remaining teeth with partial dentures.  Increased bleeding of the gum tissues is also a concern..

Research has shown that the tooth holding a partial denture in place only lasts for about five years.  The partial may also end up resting on the tooth (or teeth) which can put excessive force on both the tooth itself and the bone supporting the tooth.

The partial may also rock and act like a lever on the retaining tooth (as the bone continues to shrink away) causing the tooth to be torqued out of place.  This action can also weaken the bone or weaken the filling present in the anchor tooth.

• Dentures and Facial Wrinkles–Use of Dental Implants
• The Hidden Dangers of Missing Teeth & Dentures–The Helath Importance of Replacing Missing with Dental Implants
• Major Benefits of Replacing Dentures and Bad Teeth with Dental Implants
• Lady from Wheaton Could not Taste Food with Dentures, Dental Implants
• Will Your Cheeks Sink In?–Tooth Loss and Facial Aging