Most everybody is familiar with dentures. If a family member doesn’t have them, then you probably have seen them on a TV sitcom. Even the children’s cartoon Rugrats had an episode about the grandpa’s dentures. Dentures take a bad rap and are often the butt of jokes, but in reality they are an important dental asset. Without dentures, edentulous (fully toothless) patients would have difficulty eating healthy foods. They would be embarrassed to smile, or to even leave the house. Dentures are a physical and psychological remedy. Do you ever wonder how dentures are made?
Fabrication
Full dentures are required for those people who have no remaining teeth. The dentures act as their teeth and are shaped and colored to fit their smile and overall appearance. The steps to fabricating dentures include:
- The first step to getting dentures is a dental exam which includes x-rays. During this exam molds will be made of your jawbones. From this mold a custom-fit tray will be made for making impressions.
- During the second visit your dentist will take impressions from which the denture will be modeled.
- During the third visit the bite and position of your teeth will be recorded, and the color, shape, and size of the denture teeth decided upon.
Dental Lab
Your dentist will send all of this information to the dental lab where the dentures will be fabricated. The lab technician constructs a stone model and then fashions the dentures out of acrylic according to the stone model. Once the dentures are made they may need to be adjusted before wearing them home. Dentures are held in place via suction and denture adhesive.
ABOUT YOUR GRAND PRAIRIE DENTIST:
Dr. Quinn Smith is a well-respected and highly experienced general, restorative, and family dentist in Grand Prairie, TX. He takes a patient-first approach that starts from the moment patients enter our Pecan Tree Dental office, and he offers a three-year guarantee on all dental work that he performs. Whether you and your family are new or returning patients, you can schedule a consultation or your next appointment with Dr. Smith by contacting us at (972) 262-5111.
