What are the key steps and nuances to make awesome Dentures that your patients will love?

In this episode, Jaz probes Removable Pros legend Dr Mike Gregory to break down the process. From border molding to primary impressions and the teamwork between dentists and technicians, Mike reveals the key steps to making great dentures.

https://youtu.be/snM3PerQ1ko

For example, be sure to include a note on the lab sheet for the technician: "Preserve full peripheral depth and width of the sulcus on this impression, to about 2-3mm." This ensures the correct functional width is maintained when the final tray or denture is created.

Protrusive Dental Pearl: When checking denture occlusion, it's crucial to keep the patient relaxed. Mike suggests one simple trick: ask the patient to close their EYES before closing their teeth. This can sharpen their senses, helping to improve the bite assessment.

Need to Read it? Check out the Full Episode Transcript below!

Highlights of this Episode:

02:07 Protrusive Dental Pearl

03:31 Mike Gregory's Journey into Dental Technology

10:09 Understanding Border Moulding

13:19 Technician's Role in Denture Creation

15:45 Improving Communication with Technicians

18:34 Special Trays and Custom Trays

25:58 The Role of Green Stick

29:04 Denture Impressions

31:35 Boxing and Beading Techniques

35:08 Additive vs. Reductive Rest Seats

40:46 Guide Planes

42:43  Creating Undercuts for Dentures

45:10 Final Tips and Best Practices

48:54 Learn More with Mike Gregory

This episode is eligible for 1 CE credit via the quiz on Protrusive Guidance. 

This episode meets GDC Outcomes B and C.

AGD Subject code: 670 REMOVABLE PROSTHODONTICS   

Aim: To explore the intricate process of denture creation and provide practical insights on improving denture fit, occlusion, and collaboration between dentists and technicians.

Dentists will be able to: 

1. Understand the key elements of denture creation, including border molding and primary impressions.

2. Learn the significance of maintaining peripheral sulcus depth and width in denture impressions for functional accuracy.

3. Gain insight into the role of special trays, custom trays, and impression materials in denture fabrication.

4. Recognize the importance of clear communication between dentists and technicians in achieving optimal denture outcomes.

If you liked this episode, you’ll love Suction Lower Complete Dentures – Improve your Removable Prosthodontics – PDP073

Click below for full episode transcript:

Teaser: This huge misconception that if you get suction on an impression, that impression is the perfect impression to make a denture. But you know, and I know if you take an impression, you fill somebody's mouth with algae, you get suction. You have to break the seal to get it out. That doesn't mean you've got the right depth.

Teaser:It doesn't mean you've got the right borders. You've just created a vacuum and that's the worry that people create suction. I think this is it. This is going to be the great denture. But if you create suction, take the impression out of the mouth and look at it. It's going to be big. You can picture this, can't you?

It's going to look big, it's going to look like you've just pushed everything out the way. I used to think dentists were rubbish, which is really tough, but as a technician you've seen model after model that's garbage. And then you think, these poor guys are taking impressions, but they don't know what they're doing wrong.

How do I do it better? If you were taught maybe not brilliantly as an undergraduate, or you didn't love it as an undergraduate, so you didn't really focus on it. How do you ever get better? You need to be re taught.

Jaz's Introduction:Let's face it guys, dentures are a bit of a dark art. You only get so much exposure at dental school, and when you come to the real world, you're faced with flabby ridges,