Food getting caught under all on 4 denture - what can I do about this?

Question

Hi, I am 53 years old, I’ve had my permanent all on 4 dentures for 3 months. They are on the bottom only and everything I eat is stuck under them, All day and night I am brushing, Water picking, Flossing and Rinsing. It is so uncomfortable and I can’t go out to eat any meals. I’m so depressed and my Dentist won’t fix them he says he stands behind his work. Any suggestions. Thanks

Lance Timmerman, DMD, MAGD · Answer

When teeth are removed, implants placed, and an immediately loaded temporary prototype is placed, there are two goals or issues: healing of the bone (osseointegration, the fusing of the bone to the implants) and the shape of the gum tissues between the bone and the bridge.  At the time of the surgery, there is usually excess gum tissues and irregular shapes.  After a few months, the tissues will shrink and a gap is formed. The final restoration is designed to fit tightly against the tissues to prevent food and liquids from getting underneath.  If the final restoration was created before the tissues had enough time to take their final shape, a gap can form.  The only solution is to make a new restoration

Lori Ross Tijerino, DDS · Answer

Hi there, sorry you are dealing with this frustrating situation. Sadly, this is not terribly uncommon with implant supported dentures. There will always be a seam or a space between the dentures at the gums where food tends to collect. Sometimes there are steps that can be taken to minimize it, but they are a hygiene challenge for sure. At minimum, make sure the have the correct tip for your waterpik that will allow you to effectively flush the debris out. Additionally, verify that you have a textured floss. If the floss is too smooth it does not adequately remove the stuff. Best wishes

Kerem Turgut Atasoy, DDS, PhD · Answer

Hello. We always pay attention to achieve a cleanable prosthesis contour next to soft tissues on allon4 prostheses. Sometimes prosthesis borders may be far away from soft tissues and that may cause food accumulatuon. If your permanents are made of acrylic, the tissue adaptation can be increased by lab work. But if prosthesis is made of zirconia or porcelain fused metal, it may need to be done again.

Gustavo De Oliveira, DMD · Answer

There are various possible reasons why you may be trapping excessive food under your All-on-4 denture. If your denture is an acrylic one, it may have a concave area underneath. If this is the case, it can be relatively simple for your dentist to reshape that so it is flat (or even convex) instead. While this many not fully eliminate trapping, it should minimize the issue so that it is manageable with good hygiene.

Food getting caught under all on 4 denture - what can I do about this?

Answers (4)

Answer: Food Trapping Under Denture

Answer: Food Trapping Under Denture

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Food getting caught under all on 4 denture - what can I do about this?

Answers (4)

Answer: Food Trapping Under Denture

Answer: Food Trapping Under Denture

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Recommended reading

Everything you need to know about All-on-4 Dental Implants

Our mission is to create a world where every investment in modern beauty is Worth It.