How to Make Dentures
- 1). Examine your patient. You need to consider the age of your patient, when he lost his teeth and his previous dentures. Thoroughly evaluate your patient's oral cavity, taking note of any pathology that may hinder optimal fitting of dentures. Examine the patient's previous dentures to see what needs to be corrected.
- 2). Make a preliminary impression of the patient's mouth. For a few minutes, ask your patient to forcefully bite a piece of wax-like material made of alginate or elastomer. The mold must extend to the hamular notches and the vibrating line in the upper jaw and to the retromolar pads in the lower jaw. A second and final cast is then made from gypsum. This will serve as the mold for the dentures.
- 3). Fill the mold with pink acrylic resin to form the denture base. It contains a semicircular depression that ensures a secure fit on the gums. Acrylic resin is also used to form the teeth. Some prosthodontists prefer to use porcelain for the front teeth.
- 4). Pack the resin tightly using a vertical vise. This eliminates air bubbles inside the dentures. You may add more acrylic resin as necessary.
- 5). Heat the resin and the mold for 8 hours. This will cause the resin to harden. After the mold has cooled, break it apart to retrieve the dentures.
- 6). Fit the dentures on your patient. Ask the patient to bite. You may have to adjust the dentures if there is uneven contact or malocclusion. Smoothen rough surfaces that may irritate the inside of your patient's mouth. Assess your patient's phonation, especially for the "S" sound. Compare the new dentures with the patient's previous dentures to see whether the modifications have been made.
- 7). Ask your patient to come back after 2 weeks to adjust the fitting. It may take some time before your patient gets used to his teeth replacement. During this period, a soft diet is recommended. You may prescribe pressure relief creams for localized irritation.
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