One of the things that often gets people excited about the prospect of dentures is the expanded diet that they will afford them. Having a prosthetic meticulously molded to your gums will allow you to bite and chew with greater ease.
However, you might have also heard that certain dentures can affect how food tastes. This is a complicated situation, one that it’s worth learning more about if you’re interested in this prosthetic. Here’s what you should know.
How Can Dentures Affect My Sense of Taste?
First of all, it’s good to point out that this is only a problem for the top dentures, not those on the bottom. In some cases, patients who have dentures to replace their top teeth find that their sense of taste is not quite as strong, or that it’s altered slightly.
People often think of taste buds as being located primarily on the tongue, but this isn’t true—they’re all over the mouth. In fact, a large concentration of them is on the roof of the mouth. Many times, top dentures include a thin bit of acrylic that covers the palate, hiding these tastebuds and potentially causing problems for your ability to taste food.
Is This Unavoidable?
Full dentures, i.e. those designed to replace all of the teeth on a gum ridge, are designed to stay in place entirely via suction. Covering the roof of the mouth assists in this, making the prosthetic a little bit more stable.
However, it isn’t a necessity to do this. In fact, if you request it, it’s absolutely possible for a competent dentist to design you a strong prosthetic that happens to not cover up your palate. So-called “palateless dentures” are actually fairly common, and are therefore worth pursuing if you’re interested in replacing teeth without dampening your sense of taste.
This is made even easier in the case of implant dentures. Removable implant dentures can be made to attach to thin metal posts, affording them additional stability even without the need to cover your palate.
About the Author
Dr. Alison Fitzgerald has spent her 15 years in dentistry helping patients get the care that they deserve, ensuring that they’re able to smile with confidence. Even if you’ve lost most or all of your teeth, she can use beautifully crafted dentures to help you truly love your teeth again. Dr. Fitzgerald received her dental degree from the Creighton School of Dentistry. She has studies extensively with Partners in Synergy, the Kois Center, Progressive Orthodontics, and the American Orthodontic Society.
If you have any questions about your dentures, she can be reached at her website or by phone at (520) 338-2980.