How Are Dentures Made?

Have you ever wondered how are dentures made? As dental prosthetists, we get asked this question a lot, so we set out to answer the question of how are false teeth made and shed some light on the denture making process.

How are Dentures Made to Perfectly Fit Each Individual Patient?

Dentures seem simple. They have no moving parts, because it is your jaw that does all the moving. Making dentures can’t be that difficult, can it? So how do they make dentures? You might be surprised to find out that making a set of dentures is a complicated process and involves many steps. At Denture Health Care, we make a lot of dentures. We are the denture clinic Brisbane denture wearers call on. There are two main parts to the denture making process – the steps that involve the patient and the steps that take place in the denture lab. Here’s a breakdown of everything that is involved in making a set of dentures.

An impression and a casting are made

At our clinic, the dental prosthetist makes an impression of the patient’s gums using a special thick paste. The paste quickly sets, so the patient only has to keep the impression agent in their mouth for a few seconds. This impression is then used to make a casting which is an exact copy of the patient’s mouth.

To the denture lab

Next, the casting is sent to the denture lab. This is where most of the time and work on the dentures takes place. So how do they make dentures at the denture lab? At the lab, a technician gets to work on crafting the dentures.

Wax gumline

The technician will use wax to create a temporary gumline for the dentures based on the casting of the patient’s mouth. The wax looks and feels just like the permanent material used in dentures, but the wax is easier to work with and it’s easier to make changes to the wax if needed.

Teeth setting

The technician then goes about setting the teeth in place in the wax gumline. This is a painstaking and time-consuming process, as the teeth have to be perfectly lined up so they are comfortable for the patient and look aesthetically pleasing. The teeth are made of a special acrylic resin that is very strong and durable. The teeth are made to hold up to all of the pressure and abuse that your jaw places on them when you chew food.

Back to the denture clinic

The dentures with the wax gumline are sent back to the clinic for the patient to try. The dental prosthetist will check the dentures for fit and comfort. The dental prosthetist will make small changes to the wax dentures if changes are warranted, or make note of changes that need to be made at the lab.

The back and forth continues

If changes need to be made at the lab, the dentures will be sent back to the lab and the technician will make any adjustments. Then the dentures will be sent back to the clinic for the patient to try. This back and forth between the clinic and the lab will continue until the patient and the dental prosthetist are satisfied with the wax dentures. Usually only one trip back and forth from the lab to the clinic is needed.

Back to lab for acrylic gumline

Once everything is perfect, the dentures are sent back to the lab for the permanent gumline to be made. The technician will make a custom mould around the dentures that serves to hold the teeth in place and maintains the shape for the dentures. Then the wax is gently melted away. The technician will then pour a liquid acrylic into the mould. Once the acrylic hardens it will act as the permanent gumline for the dentures and the anchor for the teeth. This acrylic is the same colour as natural gums, so it looks very nice and realistic.

Back to the denture clinic, ready for the patient

After the dentures are cleaned and polished, they are sent to the denture clinic ready for the patient to start wearing.

Custom Made Dentures for Each Individual Patient

How are false teeth made? As you can see, very carefully using a lot of precision. At Denture Health Care, we make the process of getting dentures smooth and easy. There have been a lot of advances in making dentures, including new digital dentures that are computer aided in their design and fitting. If you want to know more about how are dentures made or about any of our other denture services, get in touch with us. You can call us on 1300 304 092 to request a call back, or you can book an appointment or consultation through the contact page.

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