Tooth Selection

There are many steps involved in creating a natural looking denture. This article will focus on one aspect that patients usually find quiet interesting . Selecting the correct tooth to go into your new denture is not as easy as one might think, an incorrect selection can create disharmony in your appearance, giving you a smile that looks false or displeasing.

The first decision that is made is whether your tooth is made of porcelain or plastic. Those who have any natural teeth remaining have only the option of plastic teeth. As porcelain being harder than your natural enamel can cause excessive wear and damage on your remaining teeth. If you are a upper and lower denture wearer however the choice is yours. Consider the following positive and negative aspects of each type and discuss these with your dental professional.

Porcelain Teeth

Positive Aspects

  • superior longevity
  • excellent stain resistance
  • superior translucency
  • tend to stay sharper

Negative Aspects

  • more audible when chewing
  • more easily chipped if dropped
  • more rigid impact when chewing
  • often more expensive

 

Plastic Teeth

Positive Aspects

  • more impact resistant
  • less audible when chewing
  • gentler feel when chewing
  • can be used against natural teeth
  • often less expensive

Negative Aspects

  • tend to stain more easily
  • less wear resistant
  • loose sharpness more quickly

Colour

Today trends tend to be more towards lighter shades with patients often requesting shades that are perhaps too light for their skin color. Obviously we all want a healthy bright looking smile. However a smile that looks like a denture is neither .

Size

Size of tooth is also critical. Teeth that are too large tend to give one a "horsy appearance" . On the other hand teeth that are too small tend to make other facial features seem large. Such as your cheeks, nose and lips.

Shape

The shape of ones face must also be taken into consideration. Although there are many variations in tooth form. Patients are generally placed into four categories as follows.

 

The Four basic Face Shapes

Characterization

Many clinics now carry a wide selection of teeth that will often include characterized or cosmetic teeth. These are teeth that have multishades blended in along with decalcification , small fractures or composite fillings. The intent being to more realistically blend in with other natural dentition.

In selecting a tooth a careful evaluation is made of the physical character of the face including its size slope and contours as well as any slight differences between the left and right sides. Age and the basic coloration of hair eyes and complexion are also noted. Then all of these factors are weighed and compared so that the selection of teeth and final design of the denture is attractive and natural.