I’ve worn dentures since 1998 and finally got All-on-4 implants in August. It’s been more than four months since I got All-on-4 and I still cannot tolerate chewing soft foods with the implants because the pressure hurts. I am so disappointed because I thought All-on-4 would resolve my shifting denture, but eating hurts. I have lost 20 pounds since I got the implants, and I did not need to lose any weight. People that know me well have noticed my weight loss and asked if I am sick. I saw my dentist last week, and without an exam or a CT scan, he asked me to allow more time for the implants to heal and return in a month to see how things are going. I think he is stalling. Shouldn’t I be able to tolerate soft foods by now? Thank you. Janiya from NY
Janiya,
Thank you for your question. We are sorry to hear about your discomfort and disappointment. Although Dr. Thomas would need to examine your implants and the temporary denture and take a 3-D CT scan to identify the source of your discomfort, we can provide some insight.
Should You Be Able to Eat Soft Foods with All-on-4?
After four months of healing, you should be able to chew soft foods with All-on-4 dental implants and other implant dentures. It takes four to six months for your jawbone and implants to fuse, so usually, your tolerance for chewing should have increased by now. Continue eating nutritious foods that promote healing, even if you must puree them. A 2013 article in The Open Dentistry Journal on dietary strategies after dental implant surgery recommends eating foods with the following characteristics that minimize inflammation:
- High fiber
- Low saturated fat
- Low sugar
Get a second opinion if your All-on-4 dental implants cause discomfort months after surgery
What Is Eating with All-on-4 Implants Causing Discomfort?
An implant dentist must examine your implants and denture and take a 3-D CT scan to determine why you feel discomfort when eating. Your concerns should have motivated your dentist to take a 3-D scan to see if your implants are stable and healing correctly or if the problem is with the denture fit.
We are unsure why your dentist wants you to wait another month, but we recommend getting a second opinion. Find a dentist with post-graduate implant training or an oral surgeon and schedule an exam. The dentist or oral surgeon can identify the source of your discomfort and explain how to resolve it.
Sugar Land, Texas, dentist Dr. Siny Thomas sponsors this post.