Missing teeth can make even something as simple as eating a burden. Dentures can help, but they slip, slide, and simply can’t handle tougher foods. Fortunately for your oral health and appetite, there is another option: dental implants. But what are the benefits of eating with them? Continue reading to learn everything you need to know about eating with dental implants in Norwalk.
How Do Dental Implants Work?
A dental implant is a small titanium cylinder that is surgically placed into the jawbone. This has the job of holding a replacement tooth. After your procedure, a process called osseointegration takes place where the implant fuses with the jawbone so it will act as a new tooth root for years to come. Because the prosthetic tooth is held within the jawbone just like a natural one, there is more security compared to bridges and dentures.
How Do Dental Implants Affect Your Eating Ability?
That great thing about dental implants is that they help patients recover 90% of their chewing ability. Removable Dentures only restore approximately 20%. Implants allow patients to eat whatever they like, while regular dentures usually prevent someone from consuming items like cooked meats and nutritious vegetables that are essential for a healthy diet.
Items like nuts, apples, chips, and other foods that were difficult to eat after losing teeth can be enjoyed again. Of course, it’s still good to take precautions. For instance, hard fruits and vegetables, like apples, are best cut into slices before eating. You should also be careful when eating hard items like nuts and popcorn.
Eating Right After Implant Surgery
Even though eating is made much easier after the dental implant procedure, this isn’t the case immediately. During the healing process after your placement procedure, you may notice that the surgical site is sore and tender. So, it’s recommended that patients initially stick to liquid and soft foods. For the first two weeks or so after surgery, it’s best to eat softer foods that are easy to digest. This includes scrambled eggs, yogurt, oatmeal, soups, applesauce, and soft breads. It’s a good idea to avoid harder foods that could delay the healing process like apples, potato chips, carrots, and meat that requires a lot of chewing.
After this initial healing period is over, most patients are easily able to eat all of the foods that they enjoyed before.
If you’re looking to restore your ability to confidently eat your favorite foods, dental implants may be the answer. Ask your dentist if you are a good candidate for the procedure. You will have your beautiful smile back in no time!
About the Practice
At Sommers Family Dentistry in Norwalk, Dr. Norman C. Sommers and Dr. Adam P. Sommers are committed to helping patients restore their smiles with modern techniques, including dental implants. Both dentists are graduates of The Ohio State University College of Dentistry. They are members of several professional organizations including the American Dental Association and the Ohio Dental Association. For more information or to schedule a consultation, visit their website or call (419) 668-3606.
