September 3, 2019
Is it Difficult to Eat With Partial Dentures?
Before our patients get a partial denture, they almost always ask us the same question: “Will eating get easier or harder?”
If you have a few missing teeth that are affecting how you talk or eat, it may be time to consider getting a partial denture. Removable partial dentures are tooth-replacement devices made of durable resin and plastic. They get a bad reputation but partial dentures can be a real game-changer for people who are struggling with missing teeth.
We tend to recommend dental implants for patients with missing teeth but, in some cases, it just financially isn’t possible. For those patients, we make more affordable custom partial dentures so they can eat and speak normally again.
Will eating with partial dentures be difficult?
Before our patients get a partial denture, they almost always ask us the same question: “Will eating get easier or harder?” While we use partial dentures for aesthetic purposes (particularly for front teeth), that isn’t their sole job. Dentists make partial dentures so patients can eat and speak better.
At first, your partial denture will be a little awkward. You’ll be used to the missing teeth and having a foreign object in their place won’t feel natural during those first few weeks. However, over time, you’ll become more and more used to wearing it. We recommend that patients wear their partial denture as much as possible when they first get it. This is so we can do small adjustments to make sure the fit is as comfortable as possible. The only reason your partial denture might be falling out or wiggling around when you’re eating is because of a problem with the fit. If this is the case, schedule an appointment at Stanley Dentistry to get your partial re-fit.
During your first month with a partial denture, try cutting up your food into small bites. This will help you become comfortable eating with your new denture. As you become more confident, you can start adding different foods into your diet. Depending on where you need a partial denture, you may still have trouble eating particularly sticky, hard, or chewy foods. However, most of our patients have few problems with their partials during mealtime.
