Before setting teeth you should have an image of the occlusion rims in relation to the patient's lips. How much wax shows when the patient is smiling, talking? Where does the patient show a lot of wax (meaning a lot of teeth)? If you want to make some changes when setting teeth you should know where the change can best be made.

Be careful that the pin always touches the incisal guide table. There is a tendency to have a space between the pin and the incisal guide table (opening the bite) to make it easier to set teeth. Don't do it.

There is also a great tendency to cut the teeth too short. Try to leave the buccal aspect of the teeth long because the beauty in the denture is the teeth. You can also make a window in the recording base to help keep the teeth long.

		15. Teeth ground too much
		15. Exact same set-up now with more concern for aesthetics

Try this. Set one tooth on the bare stone using Utility wax to keep it in place. Close the articulator with the opposing rim in place. If the tooth is not moved then you shouldn't have to trim that tooth.

Teeth disappear as soon as they hit the floor. They blend in with the floor pattern. They hide because they don't want to spend the rest of their lives working in a dirty mouth.

Teeth should always be imbedded in wax, never loose on the bracket table. The manufacturer puts denture teeth (1 by 6) and (1 by 8) on cards with some soft wax. If you should remove a tooth from your setup put it back on the card in the proper position.

If you are having a hard time fitting the teeth in the space available see your instructor.

©1999 by Julius Rosen, D.D.S.