Dentures restore only a fraction of natural bite strength, which is why eating can feel so limited. Research on fixed All-on-4® teeth is more encouraging. In one clinical study, people with All-on-4® teeth in both jaws averaged a bite force of 283 N, compared with 199 N in a group with natural teeth and 84 N for complete dentures. Once healing is complete, firmer foods such as steak and apples may be back on the menu. Individual results vary, and suitability is assessed after a clinical assessment.
If you have started cutting everything into small pieces, chewing on one side, or quietly choosing the softest thing on the menu, there is a reason.
Traditional dentures rest on your gums without a fixed anchor, so they can lift, rub and leave sore spots. Failing teeth, sometimes called terminal teeth, can bring pain, movement or sensitivity caused by decay, gum disease or trauma. Either way, chewing becomes unpredictable, and favourite foods quietly disappear from the shopping list.
We have written separately about the common issues experienced with dentures. This article is about the other half of the story: how much of your bite you may be able to get back.
Researchers measure chewing using bite force, recorded in Newtons (N). Comparing fixed teeth, such as All-on-4® with a full set of natural teeth:
• Fixed teeth on natural teeth restored around 80% of bite strength
• Removable partial dentures restored around 35%
• Complete dentures restored only around 11%
A 2025 study from Leipzig University found a similar pattern, recording an average of 547 N in people with a full set of natural teeth and 55 N in people wearing complete dentures in both jaws.
A 2018 clinical study published in Clinical Oral Implants Research measured average maximum bite force across different types of teeth:
Type of Teeth | Average Bite Force Recorded |
|---|---|
All-on-4® teeth in both jaws | 283 N |
Natural teeth | 199 N |
All-on-4® bridge in one jaw only (denture or overdenture opposite) | 108 N |
Implant overdentures | 91 N |
Complete dentures | 84 N |
In this study, people with All-on-4® teeth in both jaws recorded more than three times the average bite force of complete denture wearers, and a bite comparable to the natural teeth group.
This is not a one-off finding. A 2020 study that replaced patients’ complete dentures with either implant overdentures or All-on-4® teeth recorded the highest bite force and chewing efficiency with All-on-4®, and a 2025 systematic review found chewing muscles were more active in people treated in both jaws than in one jaw only.
It is worth keeping these results in context. The studies are relatively small, bite force is measured differently between them, and individual results vary. A strong bite is also only part of chewing well: comfort, how your teeth meet and your healing all matter.
One practical point does come through. If both of your jaws need treatment, it is worth discussing fixed teeth for both, and your clinician can explain what that could mean for you.
Once your implants have healed and your clinical team is happy with your progress, many everyday foods may be back on the table, including:
• Steak and other meats
• Apples and firmer fruits
• Raw vegetables and salads
• Crusty bread and toast
• Corn on the cob
• Nuts, where your clinician says it is appropriate
Research supports this. In a 2022 study where people over 55 chewed raw carrot, those with fixed teeth broke food down far more finely than people wearing removable dentures. A five-year multicentre study published in The Journal of Prosthetic Dentistry also found that, after receiving a fixed implant bridge, people reported less difficulty with hard and fibrous foods and felt more comfortable eating in public.
Our team does advise that after years of avoiding certain foods, habits take time to change, and research has found some people with new implant teeth still steered clear of apples and raw vegetables out of habit. Reintroducing favourites gradually, with your team’s guidance, is the easier way back.
Even a strong bite deserves some care. To help protect your bridge long term, it is best to avoid:
• Chewing ice, bones or very hard lollies
• Cracking nuts or shells with your teeth
• Very sticky foods such as toffee, especially while you have a provisional bridge
• Using your teeth as tools, for example opening packets
Although fixed provisional teeth are fitted soon after surgery, your implants still need time to integrate with your jawbone. This process is known as osseointegration. During this healing period, you’ll need to follow a staged diet, gradually progressing from softer foods as your treating clinician advises.
Stage | What to Expect When Eating |
|---|---|
First few days | Cool liquids, followed by very soft foods such as smoothies, soups, yoghurt and scrambled eggs once numbness wears off. |
Around the first 12 weeks | Soft, easy-to-chew foods while your implants heal. Hard, crunchy and chewy foods should be avoided. |
After healing and fitting your final bridge (typically around 4 to 6 months) | Firmer foods such as steak and apples can be gradually reintroduced, as advised by your clinical team. |
The soft food stage tests most people’s patience, especially when you are keen to try your new teeth. There is a good reason for it. Long-term research on the All-on-4® treatment concept found minor mechanical issues, such as a loosened screw, were far more common with provisional teeth than final ones, so going gently early on helps protect your teeth while you heal.
Everyone heals at a different pace, so follow the eating plan your clinical team gives you. For meal ideas during recovery, read our guide on what to eat after your All-on-4® surgery.
Every mouth is different. Things that may affect how strong and comfortable your bite feels include:
• One or both jaws: research shows bite force can be noticeably lower when only one jaw has fixed teeth
• Provisional and final teeth: your first bridge is made for the healing period, and your final bridge is made once your gums and implants have settled
• Bite planning: how your upper and lower teeth meet is planned so chewing forces are spread evenly
• Less natural feedback: implant teeth have no nerve endings and none of the tiny cushioning ligaments found around natural teeth, so some people bite harder than they realise at first, then adjust
• Teeth grinding: clenching or grinding puts extra load on your bridge, so a night guard may be recommended
• Ongoing care: regular check-ups and good cleaning help protect your implants and gums over time
Deciding on full-arch treatment is a big step, and it is natural to want to feel sure about who is looking after you. How your bite is planned, how your bridge is made and how you are supported afterwards all make a difference to how comfortably you chew.
At Next Smile Australia, full-arch treatment is what we do every day. Our network has completed more than 12,000 full-arch procedures over 20+ years, and we are the only Australian provider personally endorsed by Prof Paulo Malo, following his Maló Protocol with Nobel Biocare implants.
Our purpose-built Super Clinics are recognised by Nobel Biocare as All-on-4® Centres of Excellence and have in-house dental laboratories, so your surgical and prosthetic teams plan your bite together, under one roof. Reported success rates for the All-on-4® concept, including a 98% implant-level success rate at five years, come from published clinical research rather than our own patient records, and individual outcomes vary. With Super Clinics and Accredited Partners around the country, ongoing care can stay close to home.
“One of the greatest rewards in dentistry is seeing the confidence that comes from a healthy, natural-looking smile. When patients can eat comfortably, smile freely and enjoy life without thinking about their teeth, that’s when we know we’ve made a real difference.”
Dr Tony Rotondo, Specialist Prosthodontist and Lead All-on-4® Dental Surgeon, Next Smile Brisbane
Once your implants have healed and your final bridge is in place, you may be able to enjoy steak and other meats again. During the first few months you will follow a softer diet to protect your healing implants, and it is still sensible to cut meat into smaller pieces and avoid chewing on bones.
Once healing is complete, your clinical team can let you know when firmer foods such as apples are right for you. While you are getting used to your new bite, starting with apple slices is a gentler way to begin.
In a 2018 clinical study, people with All-on-4® teeth in both jaws recorded an average bite force of 283 N, compared with 199 N in a group with natural teeth. Other studies also place All-on-4® at or near the top of full-arch options for bite force and chewing efficiency. Individual results vary.
Research consistently shows fixed implant teeth produce a much stronger bite than dentures. Complete dentures have been found to restore only around 11% of natural bite strength, while one study recorded more than three times the bite force with All-on-4® in both jaws compared with complete dentures.
You will usually follow a soft food diet for around the first 12 weeks while your implants fuse with the jawbone, then gradually add firmer foods. Healing times vary, so your clinical team will let you know when it is right for you.
Because they are fixed to implants, they feel stable and secure for everyday eating, which is very different to a denture. They are not identical to natural teeth though. They have no nerve endings or cushioning ligaments, so your bite can feel a little different at first while you adjust.
If dentures or failing teeth are shaping what you eat, where you go and how much you enjoy a meal, it is worth finding out what your options are. Book a consultation to talk it through with our team.
We will listen to what matters to you, explain whether All-on-4® may suit you, and walk you through what recovery and eating could look like, with no pressure to decide on the day.
Disclaimer:
This article is general information only and is not dental or medical advice. Individual results, suitability and recovery vary. All-on-4® dental implant treatment requires a consultation and clinical assessment by a qualified dental professional, who will advise whether it is appropriate for you. All surgical procedures carry risks. Before proceeding, you should seek a second opinion from an appropriately qualified health practitioner. Next Smile Australia Pty Ltd.
References:
1. Fürhauser N, Busenlechner D, Haas R, Millesi W, Fürhauser R, Mailath-Pokorny G, Pommer B. Bite force after fixed full-arch implant rehabilitation (all-on-4) compared to complete dentures and dentate patients. Clinical Oral Implants Research. 2018;29(S17):365. doi:10.1111/clr.250_13358
2. Soni R, Yadav H, Pathak A, Bhatnagar A, Kumar V. Comparative evaluation of biting force and chewing efficiency of all-on-four treatment concept with other treatment modalities in completely edentulous individuals. Journal of Indian Prosthodontic Society. 2020;20(3):312-320.
3. Analysis of masseter muscle activity following treatment of fully edentulous patients with mono-arch and bi-arch All-on-4 prostheses: a systematic literature review. Cureus. 2025.
4. Miyaura K, Morita M, Matsuka Y, Yamashita A, Watanabe T. Rehabilitation of biting abilities in patients with different types of dental prostheses. Journal of Oral Rehabilitation. 2000;27:1073-1076.
5. Nitschke I, Moede C, Koenig A, Sobotta BAJ, Hopfenmüller W, Jockusch J. An evaluation of reference bite force values: investigating the relationship between dental prosthetic restoration and bite force. Journal of Clinical Medicine. 2025;14(8):2723.
6. Preoteasa E, Oncescu Moraru AM, Meghea D, Murariu Magureanu C, Preoteasa CT. Food bolus properties in relation to dentate and prosthetic status. Healthcare. 2022;10(9):1596.
7. Selection patterns of dietary foods in edentulous participants rehabilitated with maxillary complete dentures opposed by mandibular implant-supported prostheses: a multicenter longitudinal assessment. The Journal of Prosthetic Dentistry. 2013.
8. Allen F, et al. Food selection and perceptions of chewing ability following provision of implant and conventional prostheses in complete denture wearers. Clinical Oral Implants Research. 2002;13(3):320-326.
9. Maló P, de Araújo Nobre M, Lopes A, et al. The All-on-4 concept for full-arch rehabilitation of the edentulous maxillae: a longitudinal study with 5-13 years of follow-up. Clinical Implant Dentistry and Related Research. 2019;21(4):538-549.
10. Maló P, de Araújo Nobre M, Lopes A, Moss SM, Molina GJ. A longitudinal study of the survival of All-on-4® implants in the mandible with up to 10 years of follow-up. Journal of the American Dental Association. 2011;142(3):310-320.
11. Next Smile Australia. All-on-4® FAQs; Pricing. nextsmile.com.au (accessed 16 October 2026).
With 7 Super Clinics across Australia and a network of accredited regional partners, reliable dental implant care is always within reach. From your first consultation to lifelong aftercare, our coordinated network delivers complete implant solutions – all under one roof.
With 7 Super Clinics across Australia and a network of accredited regional partners, reliable dental implant care is always within reach. From your first consultation to lifelong aftercare, our coordinated network delivers complete implant solutions – all under one roof.