The Art of Good Replacement Teeth

Some cost-effective dentures - sort of "ready to wear" - are stamped out of denture material, and resemble not so much real teeth as the surface of your bathtub.

False teeth that look and work best are more complicated. There are a hundred clinical and esthetic choices - about material, light, color - to achieve the most natural look and function. And every individual has different requirements.

How does a denturist decide just how to construct your prosthodontics? How do they know what tooth "size" you wear?

Some of the considerations:

Base material. Some bases absorb more moisture, which can affect the fit. Color should range from coral near teeth to pinkish near the base.

Tooth shape, length, edge. Depending on age - and even gender - there are differences in the shape and color of teeth. Generally, the front teeth are lighter than the cuspids next door. Some dentists work from photographs or your old denture to construct the nearest thing to your natural dentition.

Texture. Rather than smooth as glass, replacement teeth should have some texture on the surface, especially "uppers," to work properly when you eat and speak. How much texture is yet another factor in the fit?

Good false teeth are a labor of love. Then again, most dentists believe that good denture care is both a science and an art.

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