For thousands of years, attempts have been made to produce artificial replacements for missing teeth that sit comfortably over the ridge where the teeth were (the edentulous ridge). Some quite good results were obtained from carving ivory, horn and hardwood and by casting gold, considering the obvious problems.
Until the 1940’s dentures were made from pinkish vulcanized rubber. The vulcanized rubber was the first denture structure which was cheap enough to be produced on a large scale. Teeth were made of porcelain. These teeth could only be mechanically attached to the rubber so was often bitten off. It wasn’t very aesthetic compared to today’s denture, but a lot better than nothing at all.
In the 40’s and 50’s, polymethylmethacrylate (acrylic), a modern plastic arrived. This material could cure at temperatures around boiling point (so not damaging pre-formed teeth) whilst at the same time the base was chemically bonded to the teeth.
Until the 1940’s dentures were made from pinkish vulcanized rubber. The vulcanized rubber was the first denture structure which was cheap enough to be produced on a large scale. Teeth were made of porcelain. These teeth could only be mechanically attached to the rubber so was often bitten off. It wasn’t very aesthetic compared to today’s denture, but a lot better than nothing at all.
In the 40’s and 50’s, polymethylmethacrylate (acrylic), a modern plastic arrived. This material could cure at temperatures around boiling point (so not damaging pre-formed teeth) whilst at the same time the base was chemically bonded to the teeth.
Acrylic is lighter than previous materials, is virtually taste-free, and economical to use. Acrylic teeth can be made in a wide variety of shades, with some very life-like finishes possible...
Gold inlays were constructed in some acrylic teeth to imitate those used in natural teeth. With better porcelains replacing gold inlays in natural teeth, these denture-borne gold inlays have latterly demonstrated the “falseness” of denture, rather opposite to the effect originally intended.
Another method of making dentures look more natural has been to adjust the positions of the teeth out of the perfect line.
Natural teeth have a large number of discrepancies in the surface and there is a lot of effort put in for manufacturers to imitate these.
Gold inlays were constructed in some acrylic teeth to imitate those used in natural teeth. With better porcelains replacing gold inlays in natural teeth, these denture-borne gold inlays have latterly demonstrated the “falseness” of denture, rather opposite to the effect originally intended.
Another method of making dentures look more natural has been to adjust the positions of the teeth out of the perfect line.
Natural teeth have a large number of discrepancies in the surface and there is a lot of effort put in for manufacturers to imitate these.
Dentures
