How crucial is a smile, to an actress, a sales person, a professional, to one in love or to a desperate employment candidate? Without our smile, who can express confidence, approval, warmth, pleasure, gratitude or laughter? Our smile is our statement. Each smile is the unique design of our creator’s natural arrangement of natural teeth. To artificially produce a life-like smile is an art and a science.
Can you imagine da Vinci or Monet creating a portrait from a conversation on the phone or from a prescription without actually seeing their clients? Artificial tooth arrangement of dentures is in the mind and hands of the artist; it is most precisely achieved in a one on one setting in which the artist can actually see and study his subject. Technologists are the da Vinci and Monet of aesthetic denture tooth arrangement. Denturists are denture care technologist providers who specialize in personalized tooth arrangement. A small percentage of dentists may also excel in this area, possibly, one out of one hundred; yet, the technologist designs and constructs 99 percent of all dentures, not the dentist. We have assembled a series of frequently asked questions and answers about the appearance of dentures that will help you sort out and find solutions to tooth arrangement difficulties, you or a loved one may be experiencing:
- Q: I am about to have new dentures made; I am very appearance conscious, can you give me some advice?
- It is very important that appearance inconsistencies are caught before the denture is completed. Your practitioner should let you know which visit your dentures will be at the wax try-in stage. This visit is the most important. Bring a friend along who has ability to help you evaluate your smile. Be sure that you like it, because if it goes to the next stage, there is no turning back; the pink wax will be changed to a gum color acrylic (irreversible). Take your time, have a good mirror, make every expression possible; smiling frowning, laughing, talking, pronouncing words, etc. Compare them with your current dentures or a picture. Take your time; be sure; even if it takes another visit. After accepting the try-in, some dentists will be in a hurry to have you sign a document of acceptance, hoping to be relieved from responsibility if you are later not satisfied with the appearance of your denture. Do not sign anything until you are sure you are satisfied.
- Q: Why do my new dentures make me look so different?
- A: If your dentures were inserted shortly after your teeth were extracted, they should be replaced or rebuilt six months after the extraction date. In the meantime, see if your denture care provider can modify the appearance by thinning and polishing them. If they were replacement dentures, there may be a problem in the tooth selection, tooth arrangement or in the design of the denture itself. Talk to your denture provider. If you do not get results, it may be advantageous for you to get a second opinion from a denturist (denture specialist).
- Q: My dentures show too much teeth, is there anything that I can have done to correct the problem?
- A: It sounds like your teeth were set into your denture with too much vertical dimension. Sometimes, it is a case of the pink flange of your dentures being too thick; thus causing your upper lip to rise up, exposing more of the teeth. The teeth could have also been positioned too far out facially, causing your lip to ride up. An experienced denture care provider will be able to identify and remedy the problem. It is very important that these inconsistencies are caught at the try-in stage, before the denture is completed.
- Q: My new dentures do not show enough teeth, is there anything that I can have done to correct the problem?
- A: Apparently, your denture teeth were either positioned with too little vertical dimension or maybe the teeth themselves should have been longer, so that you would have shown more teeth. It may possibly take a new denture to correct the problem. In any case, a good denture care provider will be able to Identify and remedy the problem. As mentioned in the answer to the previous question, it is very important that these inconsistencies are caught before the denture is completed.
- Q: Why do I show too much gum when I wear my dentures; I never showed any gums when I had my natural teeth?
- A: There are three basic reasons why denture wearers show too much gum. One, instead of the teeth being exposed properly, they may have been covered with too much pink gum-like material; thus hiding the full length of the teeth. The second reason could be that the teeth themselves may not be long enough, leaving too much room for artificial gum to be exposed. The third reason may be that the gum part of your denture is just too thick, preventing the lip from touching the teeth. If it is the third reason, it may be easy to correct, by simply reducing the thickness of the plastic gum part of the denture. If it sounds like the first or second example, the dentures may have to undergo a major laboratory modification, which would require at least a couple of clinical appointments, plus a little bit of time. In some cases, it may be easier to have the denture made over. It could be a challenge best handled by a denturist.
- Q: Why do the teeth on so many dentures look so perfectly even instead of looking natural?
- A: That’s an excellent observation. Denture teeth come in all shapes, sizes and shades or colors. It’s up to the denture care provider to come up with a tooth selection and to create a natural looking tooth arrangement; of course, taking into consideration of the patients input. Pictures of your natural teeth also help. It doesn’t matter how old the photo is or its size, your denture care provider can have it enlarged or use a magnifying glass if necessary, to study your tooth arrangement. If you don’t have pictures, all is not lost. A good denture care provider, along with your help, can create a natural smile. Once the denture is tried in your mouth, both of you should observe and evaluate your appearance during different expressions and during the pronunciation of certain words such as Emma, thirty three, fifty-five and sixty-six. It takes a talented individual to professionally move and arrange teeth around in the wax try-in during your presence. Usually, busy dental practices are not very conducive to this kind of personalized service. Denturists have much more ability in this area.
- Q: I do not like the color of my teeth; can it be changed?
- A: Denture teeth are completely color stable and will maintain their shade for the duration of the denture. Cleaning them will not change the color. If you are not crazy about the shade or color, you can have the entire denture duplicated, but this time with a more desirable shade of teeth. The gum color can also be changed. Ask your denture professional about this service; if he or she cannot help you, try another one.
- Q: I do not like the appearance of my new dentures, how do I go about straightening it out?
- A: Your denture appearance should have been established first by placing and arranging the upper six front or anterior teeth into position. After the tooth arrangement was discovered to be satisfactory and to your liking, a wax try-in, including the remaining teeth, should then have been constructed and tried into your mouth for final approval. The dentures should not have been processed into permanent materials until you were completely satisfied and accepted the aesthetic appearance. Once the dentures are in their permanent stage, they cannot be changed without making major alterations. In many occasions, if the denture appearance is unsatisfactory, it is often more advantageous to be fitted for a new set of dentures. Denturists rarely miss a proper try-in approval. However, if they do, they have the expertise and the facility to easily correct the problem. Whereas, most dentist will have to not only repeat the whole process again, but will also have to order a whole new set of dentures from a laboratory at his or her expense; because of the time and expense, many are reluctant.
- Q: I have a problem with my top two front teeth not lining up correctly with the center of my bottom teeth, what can be done to correct it?
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A: In most cases, there is a high probability that the centerlines between your upper and lower dentures can be lined up. It is primarily important that your denture care provider line up the centerline of your upper teeth, then make all attempts to match it with your lower teeth. If your dentures have already been completed, your practitioner first needs to check to see if the upper centerline corresponds accordingly with middle of the face and upper lip. If it corresponds accurately, then only the lower has to be changed. This is a major procedure, and to be done properly, may take a few days. If you don’t think you are making progress with your denture care provider, consider a second opinion. However, if your provider seems to be trying to work with you, give him or her the benefit of the doubt. We don’t always get everything right the first time.
Also keep in mind, in this economy, a four or five hundred dollar denture will in most cases not give you a million dollar smile. Quality dentures that are personally and directly built by a specialist take at least three to five times longer to build than low cost dentures. It is not reasonable to expect that your denture care provider can deliver top aesthetics for a low fee. On the other hand, if you paid a premium fee you deserve premium service.
In rare cases, it may be impossible to line up the centerlines between the upper and lower teeth, due to jaw deviations. In these cases, depending on the jaw relationship, it is almost always essential to at least arrange the center of the upper teeth to harmonize with the denture wearer’s upper lip and face. However, in most cases, especially when building complete upper and lower dentures together, there is a high probability that the centerlines can be lined up to match.
Are your dentures giving you the appearance that you expected? Do you think your tooth arrangement needs to be improved? If so, have you gained a few helpful pointers that will assist you in having the problem corrected? You may also be able to find information through surfing the internet, but don’t believe everything you read. Most claims, whether material, techniques or denture services, do not assure personal denture care success. If you have been burnt or you are really particular, your best bet is a denturist. Some dentists may be able to deliver, depending on their experience, tolerance and the laboratory they use. Keep in mind that the better the artist, the higher the price, and in some cases you may have to travel.