Why Can’t I Eat Normally With My Teeth-in-a-Day?

Question submitted by: Marissa

I had All-on-4 dental implants placed two weeks ago. Before the procedure, I was told I would have new teeth the same day. That was true, but I was surprised when my dentist gave me a long list of foods I could not eat. I’m supposed to stay on a soft diet for several weeks and avoid anything hard or chewy. If these teeth are permanently attached, why can’t I eat normally with them? I’m worried this means the implants are not as stable as I was led to believe.

Marissa

Dear Marissa,

What you are experiencing is a normal part of the All-on-4 dental implant process.

Teeth in a day means that a fixed set of teeth can be attached to your dental implants on the day they are placed. It does not mean that the implants have finished healing or that the provisional teeth are ready for for you to eat anything.

When your dental implants were placed, they were positioned securely enough to support your provisional denture. However, the bone surrounding the implants still needs time to integrate with them. This process, known as osseointegration, typically takes several months.

During this healing period, excessive pressure can cause tiny movements in an implant. Those movements will interfere with osseointegration and increase the risk of implant failure. Because all four implants work together to support the arch, protecting each one is important. If one fails, the entire unit fails.

What Can I Eat After All-on-4 Surgery?

Your dentist’s instructions should take priority because they are based on your individual procedure and healing progress. Generally, patients begin with liquids and very soft foods before gradually adding foods that require gentle chewing.

I’m not sure what foods your dentist recommended, but these are safe as well:

• Scrambled eggs
• Yogurt
• Mashed potatoes
• Soft pasta
• Cooked vegetables
• Fish
• Applesauce
• Cottage cheese
• Smooth soups
• Soft bread without a hard crust

You should have been told to avoid nuts, raw vegetables, popcorn, hard or chewy candy, tough meats and crusty bread. Even seemingly harmless habits, such as chewing ice, can place too much stress on healing implants.

A useful guideline is to avoid any food that requires enough force to make you wonder whether you should be eating it. This is not the time to test your new teeth.

Your Same-Day Teeth Are Provisional

It is also important to understand that the teeth placed on the day of surgery are provisional. They are designed to give you an attractive smile and basic function while your mouth heals and the bone has time to integrate with the implants. They also allow your dentist to evaluate your bite, speech and the appearance of your smile before creating the final restoration.

Once osseointegration is complete, your dentist will examine the implants and determine whether they are ready for the permanent teeth. Your final restoration will be made to withstand much greater chewing forces.

Your soft-food restrictions do not necessarily indicate that anything is wrong with your implants. In fact, these precautions are intended to protect your investment and give the implants the best opportunity to integrate successfully.

If an area feels loose, your bite suddenly changes or you experience increasing pain or swelling, contact your dentist promptly. Otherwise, follow the prescribed diet and give your body the time it needs to heal.

All-on-4 dental implants can provide secure, functional teeth, but even Teeth in a Day require patience during the healing process.

This blog is brought to you by a top-rated Tucson prosthodontist Dr. Howard Steinberg.