One of the objectives in complete denture prosthetics is to produce a harmonious appearance of the denture when in the patient’s mouth. A denture usually perceived as esthetics when the teeth and bases are in harmony with the facial musculature as well as the size & shape of the head. The selection of artificial teeth & their arrangement to meet esthetic requirements demand artistic skill in addition to scientific knowledge.

1. By- Dr. Prathamesh Fulsundar

2. Introduction
Evolution of denture teeth
Objectives
Shade selection
Size and Number
Tooth Form
Tooth material
Tooth selection in single CD
References

3.  One of the objectives in complete denture
prosthetics is to produce a harmonious appearance
of the denture when in the patient’s mouth.
 A denture usually perceived as esthetics when the
teeth and bases are in harmony with the facial
musculature as well as the size & shape of the
head.

4.  The selection of artificial teeth
& their arrangement to meet
esthetic requirements demand
artistic skill in addition to
scientific knowledge.
 There are no rules of thumb for this procedure,
however there are anatomic landmarks &
manufactured aids if adhered to, will result in
esthetically pleasing complete dentures that are
also functional.

5.  15th Century- Switzerland
(Hinged wooden dentures)
 16th Century- Japan
(Wooden dentures)

6.  1728- France (Pierre Fauchard-Ivory Teeth)
 18th Century- Persia (Nicholas Chemant- Mineral
paste denture)

7.  18th Century- France (Bourdet -metal denture with
human Teeth)
 18th Century- Paris (G.Fonzi – Fired Porcelain teeth)

8.  1837-London (C. Ash–porcelain tube teeth reatined
with the help of post)
 1854 (Mahlon Loomis–All porcelain denture)

9.  1837- Philadelphia (S.S. White–Pin retained
anatomical teeth of different sizes & Shapes)

10.  1913- Gysi (33 degree Teeth)
 1931- Sears (Teeth with sharp grooves and ridges)

11.  19th Century- S.S White ( 30 degree Teeth)
 19th Century- F H Blackwill (Teeth with Functional
Cusps)

12.  19th Century- Halls ( Inverted Cusp Design)
 19th Century-Sewson (Teeth with non lock Design)

13.  19th Century- Mc Grane ( Anteroposterior
intercuspation Design)
 19th Century- La Deu & Saffir (Flat Plane Teeth)
later modified by Justi (Acrylic Teeth).

14.  The goals for this phase of therapy are to
construct complete dentures that:
1. Function well,
2. Allow the patient to speak normally,
3. Are esthetically pleasing &
4.Will not abuse the tissues over residual
ridges.

15.  Primary selection of the teeth must be carried
out at the first appointment.
 Final teeth selection must me carried out at the
Jaw relation stage.

16.  The selection of posterior teeth will be
considered in relation to:
1.Shade.
2.Size & number.
3.Form.
4.Material.

17.  The shade of posterior teeth
should harmonize with the shade
of the anterior teeth.
 The maxillary premolars may be
slightly lighter than the other
posterior teeth, but not lighter
than the anterior teeth.
 Acrylic teeth shade selection
should be done with the help of
acrylic teeth shade guide

18. Acrylic Teeth Shade Guide

19. Porcelain Teeth Shade Guide
1. VITA 3D Master
2. VITA Classical
3. VITA Pan

20.  The space available for posterior teeth may be
defined in three dimensions:
A. Buccolingual dimension.
B. Mesiodistal dimension.
C. Occluso-gingival dimension.

21.  It is desirable to have the
bucco-lingual width of the
artificial teeth less than that of
the natural teeth.
 This will decrease stresses
transferred to the denture
supporting area, increase
tongue space & allow for
improved contouring of the
polished surface of the lingual
denture flange.

22.  The mesio-distal width of the
posterior teeth is determined by
the length & slope of the
mandibular residual ridge.
 The lower posterior teeth should
not be set on the retromolar
pad.
Middle of Retromolar
Pads

23.  The mesiodistal width of the posterior teeth is
measured from the distal surface of the
mandibular canine to the mesial end of the
retromolar pad.
 The total mesiodistal width in millimeters of the
posterior teeth is often used as a mould number.

24. Determine distance from the distal surface of the
canine to the mesial end of the retromolar pad.

25.  The length of posterior teeth is determined by the
amount of interarch distance.
 The longer teeth which can be used are more
esthetically pleasing than short teeth specially for
the upper premolars (to be esthically in harmony
with the canine).
 Most manufacturers supply posterior teeth in L
(long), M (medium) and S (short) length.

26.  For patients with minimal inter-arch space, short bite
teeth can be used which have long facial surfaces
but short occlusal portions.
Decreased inter-arch distance that
will compromise on the occluso-
gingival height of the prosthetic
teeth
Good inter-arch space to
place teeth with high
occluso- gingival height

27.  There are three basic tooth moulds:
A. Anatomic.
B. Semi anatomic.
C. Non anatomic.

28.  Simulate the natural teeth form.
 Have inclines of approximately 33 degree
 Anatomic teeth with 30 degree cuspal-
angulations are also available and are commonly
known as Pilkington-Turner teeth
20
°
10
°
30°

29. Indication:
Normal opposing ridge relation & good ridge
size.
Young patients.
 Occlusal Form:
 Balancing in Centric and eccentric positions

30. Advantages:
Maximize esthetics.
Provide balanced occlusion with greater ease.
Provide better initial penetration of the bolus.
More masticatory efficiency
Disadvantages:
More horizontal forces during function.
Faster bone resorption
Cannot be used in severely resorbed cases.

31.  They are also known as modified cusp or low-cusp
teeth
 They may have 20 or 10 degree cuspal angulation.
 The 10 degree semi-anatomic teeth are commonly
known as Anato-line teeth.
 Look like well worn natural teeth.

32. Indications:
Mild ridge resorption.
Mild discrepancies in jaw relation.
Advantages:
They are more flexible to arrange than anatomic
teeth but are not as flexible as non anatomic
teeth.

33.  Are known as 0 degree, cuspless or monoplane
teeth.
 They have no cuspal angulation hence are very
flexible to set

34. Indications:
patients with:
Crossbite tooth relationships.
Poor muscular control.
Severely resorbed ridges.
Large discrepancy between centric jaw relation
& centric occlusion.
Arranged in a plane and balanced only in
centric.

35. Advantages:
Ease of arrangement as compared to anatomic
and semi anatomic teeth
Greater range of motion (parafunctional jaw
habits)
Less horizontal or torqueing forces during
function.
Lower residual bone resorption
Disadvantages:
Less masticatory efficiency
Look Unnatural

36. Factors that control the selection of the form of a tooth:
•Condylar inclination
•Height of the residual ridge: Shallow cusped teeth go
better with shallow ridges
•Patient’s age: Teeth with shallow cusps are preferred in
older people.
•Ridge relationship: 0degree or monoplane teeth are
preferred for cases with posterior cross bite or severe class
II relationship

37. Shallow condylar guidance will require teeth with shallow
(lower) cuspal angle
Steep condylar guidance will require teeth with higher
cuspal angulation to produce occlusal balance

38. Deep/steep cusp teeth should be
used over steeper and taller ridges
(Anatomic Teeth)
Shallow cusped teeth should be used over
shallow ridges (Semi anatomic)
Monoplane teeth are preferred to
attain good occlusal harmony in
severe class II ridge relationships

40.  Factors in consideration:
1.Ridge morphology: for broad, well formed ridges,
cusped teeth can be used.
2. Inter-arch distance: the more the bone
resorption that has taken place, the greater is the
indication for a flat type of tooth morphology.

41. 3. Arch relationship: the class I jaw relationship
permits the selection of any posterior mould but
for class II & III the patient may do better with the
non- anatomic tooth form.
4. Neuromuscular control: if the muscle control of
the patient is questioned, non-anatomic teeth
are indicated.
5. Esthetics: if the patient is extremely concerned
about esthetics, anatomic or semi-anatomic teeth
are indicated.

42. 6. Mastication of food: the anatomic teeth are more
efficient in masticating but at the expense of
increased horizontal pressure. the efficiency of
non-anatomic teeth can be improved by proper
occlusal design . They produce a lesser horizontal
force with a decrease in vertical force.
7. Previous denture wearing experience: they
should be carefully examined in relation to wear,
occlusal harmony, comfort & efficiency.

43.  In summary, the factor with the greatest input into
the choice of anatomic teeth is the contour of the
residual ridge.

44.  Acrylic resin (Most widely used)
 Porcelain
 Metals
 Gold alloys
 Stainless Steel
 Cobalt Chromium
 Aluminium

46. High impact posteriors
Mono plane occlusionLingualized occlusionA-D shades similar to
Bleaching shades
High AestheticsDesigned to match ivoclar-
anteriors teeth

47. Porcelain
Excellent esthetics
Difficult to stain.
Excellent wear
resistance.
Brittle, susceptible to
breakage.
Bond mechanically to
denture base.
Acrylic
Good esthetics initially.
Simple to stain.
Wear more readily.
Tough, durable & highly
resistant to breakage.
Bond Chemically to
denture base.

48. Porcelain
Difficult to modify.
Difficult to polish.
Produce sharp impact
sound. (Clicking)
Density is 2.35gcm3.
Transmit all forces to
the tissues.
Rebasing is more easy.
Acrylic
 Easier to modify.
 Easily polished.
 Produce less noticeable
sounds.
 Density is 1.18gcm3.
 Absorb some of the
masticatory stresses.
 Slightly more difficult.

49. Upper and lower teeth can be:
Both porcelain.
Both acrylic resin.
A combination of porcelain and acrylic resin
teeth, e.g. : resin anterior teeth & porcelain
posterior teeth.
BUT
Resin posterior teeth with porcelain anterior teeth
is contraindicated because the resin teeth will
wear rapidly resulting in anterior occlusal
discrepancies which in turn cause destruction of
the underlying tissues.

50. Single maxillary complete denture:-
•Teeth set used are acrylic teeth opposing
natural dentition
•Gold teeth or inserts can also be used but
porcelain is never used.
Single maxillary complete denture
Carl F. Driscoll, DMD*, Radi M. Masri, BDS, MS Dent Clin N Am 48 (2004) 567–
583

51. Selecting denture teeth
 Advise patient don’t persuade.
 An art and minimal science.
 Use old denture as a starting point.
 Look at dentate patient esthetics.

52. •Heartwell Cm, Rohn Ao (2002) Tooth Selection. In:
Textbook Of Complete Dentures, 5th Ed. Bc Decker, Pp
305–319
•Hoffman W Jr, Bomberg Tj, Hatch Ra (1986) Interalar
Width As Guide In Denture Tooth Selection. J Prosthet
Dent 55:219–221
•Zarb Ga, Bolender Cl, Hickey Jc, Carlsson Ge (1998)
Selecting Artificial Teeth For The Edentulous Patient.
Textbook On Bouchers Prosthodontic Treatment For The
Elderly, 10th Edn. Bi Publications Pvt Ltd, New Delhi, Pp
330–351

53.  Kumar S, Arora A, Yadav R. An alternative
treatment of occlusal wear: Cast metal occlusal
surface. Indian J Dent Res 2012;23:279-82
 Single Maxillary Complete Denture Carl F.
Driscoll, Dmd*, Radi M. Masri, Bds, Ms Dent
Clin N Am 48 (2004) 567–583
 Engelmeier RL. The history and development of
posterior denture teeth--introduction, part I. J
Prosthodont. 2003 Sep;12(3):219-26.