Artificial teeth for dentures are too long - solutions

In the practice of denturists, it is a common occurrence that artificial teeth are initially longer than necessary for proper fitting. While this discrepancy can often be managed, the specific approach to adjusting the length depends significantly on the Assembly Type being utilized.

For certain assembly types, such as the Base with Designed Teeth, this issue is relatively straightforward to address. In these cases, the teeth are intentionally modified by cutting them to create a coupling mechanism with the denture base. This ensures a secure and functional integration between the components. Similarly, for the Monoblock, the teeth are reduced and seamlessly incorporated into the base to form a single, unified structure.

However, when working with a Base with Artificial Teeth, particularly those that require manual or milled reduction, the process of reducing tooth length becomes far more critical. This is because the precision of the reduction directly impacts the effectiveness of the coupling mechanism, the overall aesthetics of the denture, and the patient’s comfort. Any miscalculation or error during this process could compromise the structural integrity of the denture, leading to functional or cosmetic issues.

As a result, careful consideration, advanced techniques, and meticulous attention to detail are essential when addressing tooth length in this context. Ensuring that the adjustments are both accurate and harmonious with the overall design of the denture is a key aspect of professional denturist practice.

There are several steps of milled (or manual) reduction allowing to reduce the excessive teeth length.

At the beginning, we have a pink PMMA blank out of which the denture base will be milled:

In the step 1, the pockets are formed according to the shape of artificial teeth, so pockets perfectly match the teeth.

At the step 2 teeth are glued to the pocket – as usual.

In the step 3 all excessive material is removed (base material plus teeth material).

Below is the picture illustrating how the final denture looks like (the reduction is manual here). The teeth perforate the denture base, which becomes visible only after all excessive material is removed.

A modern and effective solution is to use digital versions of denture teeth libraries. These libraries offer pre-designed teeth models with reduced lengths, eliminating the need for manual adjustments and preventing intersecting surfaces. Digital libraries simplify the design and manufacturing process, ensuring precision and reducing errors. They are particularly useful with CAD/CAM systems, enabling saving time and resources.

Examples of such libraries available in the 3Shape Download Center, provide a variety of teeth models optimized for functionality and aesthetics.:
-    Acry Smart Digital (free for all users);
-    DS Digital Genios;
-    DS Digital Portrait;
-    HUGE Sonning Digitalife (free for all users).