Manuals_files/CD Manual 12.pdf - Removable Prosthodontics

Selecting & Setting Teeth - 39
Selecting and Setting Denture Teeth
Reference Marks on the Occlusion Rims, Record Bases and Master Casts
When a dental laboratory technician will be setting the denture teeth, it is critical that the
occlusal vertical dimension, the lip support, the angulation and overjet of the wax
occlusion rims be determined correctly, for the technician will not have the benefit of
patient contact to help them set the teeth in proper position. After accurately adjusting
these aspects of the occlusal rims, the dentist should place some additional reference marks
on the occlusion rims to aid in tooth selection and placement.
A. Maxilla
In the maxilla, reference marks should include:
Midline of the maxillary rim - Use a #7
wax spatula to score a line demarcating
the position of the midline of philtrum of
the lip. This is one of the most critical
references to record. Ensure the mark is a
line, not just a dot, which parallels the
patients overall facial midline. Otherwise
the incisors can be set at an angle, making
the set up look off center. The mandibular
midline can be marked at the same time.
Corners of the mouth - Use a #7 wax spatula to mark the corners of the patient’s
mouth, when closed, at rest. This approximates where the distal of the canine teeth
should terminate. Use the flexible Trubyte Auto-Rule to measure around the
circumference of the rim between contralateral marks - tooth size of the six anterior
teeth can be read off the ruler in mm or by the Dentsply letter code (A,B,C,etc.)
High Lip line -Use a #7 wax spatula to mark the highest point the upper lip reaches
when the patient smiles. The maxillary anterior teeth should be selected so the