The Art of Denture Fabrication

The first denture is a humbling and tense experience for both doctor and patient. Natural teeth, no matter how unhealthy or unaesthetic, are the patients own. Dentures are merely devices that the patient must learn to use. Just as a musician learns to play a trumpet or clarinet, the new denture wearer learns to use their new instruments to talk, eat and smile. Recreating or improving a smile with false teeth is an art. Unlike the art of a successful painter or sculptor, the dentist is most successful if no one notices the final product.

People choose dentures to replace their teeth when they have dental problems like severe periodontitis (gum disease), extensive tooth decay, accidental tooth loss, extreme wear, or very unaesthetic teeth. The author's earlier column, "A New Beginning - With Dentures", discusses the reasons people may choose to replace their teeth with full dentures.

Dentists begin to treat new denture patients by getting to know them. Dentists ask themselves, " What is this patient trying to achieve with dentures." "What does this patient expect?" "What does this patient know about dentures?" "How will this patient's health affect their outcome?" Every patient is different. Every dentist is different. Therefore, each denture treatment is different.

Dentures never feel like natural teeth. Denture wearers are only able to generate one fifth of the chewing force of healthy natural teeth. Well-fitted dentures slide around and move, because they are fully supported by soft, slick gum tissue. The use of dental implants, titanium fixtures that are surgically embedded in the bone, has revolutionized denture treatment by providing solid anchors for full dentures. Today, the state of the art in lower denture treatment includes the use of two to four implants to improve comfort.