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Dentures

life science Maturity 7-9 Next article →

Dentures are tools used to replace teeth that are missing. They are supported by the soft and hard parts of the mouth.

Occclusal denture example
Occclusal denture example

People use them for many important reasons. One reason is mastication, which is a way to say chewing. Dentures help people chew their food much better. They also help with aesthetics, or how a face looks. Dentures support the lips and cheeks to keep a natural look. They also help with pronunciation so people can speak clearly.

Dentures in Marrakesh Morocco
Dentures in Marrakesh Morocco

There are different ways these teeth work. Some are called removable dentures because you can take them out. Complete dentures fit on the top or bottom arch. They stay in place using suction. Other types are called fixed prosthodontics. These stay in the mouth and do not come out. They might use dental implants or clasps to stay steady. Some people use a bridge, which is a fixed partial denture. These use crowns that fit onto the remaining teeth.

Pierre Fauchard - Le Chirurgien Dentiste - dentures
Pierre Fauchard - Le Chirurgien Dentiste - dentures

People have been making false teeth for a very long time. As early as the 7th century BC, the Etruscans made partial dentures. They used human or animal teeth held by gold bands. In Japan, people invented wooden dentures around the 16th century. Later, Pierre Fauchard described dentures with metal frames in 1728. The first porcelain dentures were made around 1770 by Alexis Duchâteau. In 1820, Samuel Stockton made high-quality porcelain dentures. He mounted them on 18-carat gold plates.

Carved ivory upper and lower denture Wellcome L0003910
Carved ivory upper and lower denture Wellcome L0003910

Many famous people have used dentures throughout history. George Washington had many problems with his teeth. He lost his first adult tooth when he was twenty-two. By the time he was president, he had only one tooth left. He had four sets of false teeth made by John Greenwood. None of his sets were actually made of wood. One set was carved from elephant and hippopotamus ivory. These were held together using gold springs.

Modern dentures are usually made from a material called acrylic. This is a type of plastic called polymethyl methacrylate. It is easy to shape and looks like pink gums.

Occclusal denture example
Occclusal denture example

Some dentures use cobalt chromium to make them stronger. This helps stop them from breaking easily. It is very important to keep dentures very clean. If they are not cleaned, people can get denture stomatitis. This is an inflammation or redness of the skin under the dentures. Good hygiene helps keep the mouth healthy and happy.

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🖼️ Images & Media (4)
File:Occclusal denture example.jpg
Occclusal denture example.jpg
File:Dentures in Marrakesh Morocco.jpg
Dentures in Marrakesh Morocco.jpg
File:Carved ivory upper and lower denture Wellcome L0003910.jpg
Carved ivory upper and lower denture...
File:Pierre Fauchard - Le Chirurgien Dentiste - dentures.png
Pierre Fauchard - Le Chirurgien Dentiste...
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