In the last part of this series (meaning that there’s a part 1: an introduction to our denture guide, and part 2: denture impressions) we’ll now be looking at…
How a denture is made
Bite Registration and Special Tray impressions
Let’s jump right into it, how a denture is made.The first thing to happen will be that they are decontaminated and labelled correctly. Then they are ready to have a plaster mix, (a hard gypsum plaster with water) poured into them to create a model. This model will be our on site representation of your mouth to work from.
Once we have your model we can then start to create what is called Bite Registration Blocks.
The bite block is designed to:
- allow the clinician to take a record of how you bite together as every patient is unique,
- then be used as a guide to set teeth,
- be made primarily of wax and if done correctly are to be a early representation of how the finished denture could feel.
This is what the models will look roughly like once cast in plaster, trimmed up and necessary observations and records of important landmarks indicated.
These will be used as guidelines when making the Bite Registration Blocks.
These are some of the materials and tools that I use to make your Bite Registration Blocks.
The Process of Making A Bite Registration Block
The first thing to do when making the bite block is to soak the model in water to prevent the wax sticking to the plaster model.
In the picture above you will see that I have used 3 different types of wax. The darker wax is a stronger more dimensionally stable wax. The lighter pink wax is a standard medium strength wax and the green an apple flavoured softer version.
The stronger wax is cut into half and then a half is heated until it becomes soft and pliable. it is then tightly moulded over the model to create a stable base. Wire strengtheners are bent to shape and warmed, then placed into the wax to further add strength. The extra strength is required as when a bite is taken the patient is asked to bite down on the block. The biting down force combined with the increased temperature of the mouth can easily distort the wax so a stronger base is used.
Once cooled the lighter wax is also cut in half. That is then heated and folded carefully removing all air into a shape that resembles the green wax. The is then placed over the ridge of the model guided by the indicated landmarks. This will then be smoothed into the base so they become one.
The green wax being soft is then gently heated on one side whilst the lighter pink wax is still warm and placed onto the top of the wax rim. As they are still soft they will stick together and form one complete ridge, as you can see from the coloured layers. The green wax is there as a softer wax so as a patient you will not have to bite as hard into the bite registration block. Biting to hard will distort the bite and potentially give a false bite recording.
This is a finished Bite Registration block. If you click on the image for a closer view, you can see the 3 types of wax.
This will now be used in the clinic to show how you as a patient bites together. It’s to be adjusted by either adding or removing wax to show where the teeth are to be placed. This is crucial as things like Function, Aesthetics, Phonetics, rely completely on where the teeth are placed. Because of this, this is a crucial stage in the process that is often over looked.
In this image a great amount of detail has been replicated from the impression.
This is important because an upper dentures biggest enemy is gravity! To combat gravity, the denture requires suction. To get suction you need:
- a great impression by a skilled clinician,
- a good saliva flow,
- a decent amount of remaining bone structure.
This has been the construction of the bite block in enough detail to inform, not so much to confuse you with all the unnecessary jargon.
How to get your denture impressions?
I hope that begins to answer how a denture is made. As Smiles believes that the very best dental care starts with giving you knowledge on several topics that you need to know – begin by reading about:
The results speak for themselves on our Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/smilescentre.
If you’re already invested in the idea of having a new set of dentures, or your dentures replaced, repaired, then book an appointment through Smiles Centre Dentures . Even if it’s just for a general inquiry, no commitment needed.
Thanks, Simon Jennings.
