Biting and new complete dentures – the sandwich filling

The occlusion is designed so that the anterior teeth do not contact when the patient brings the upper and lower teeth together in centric relation. The denture teeth will normally have good positive occlusal contacts on the premolars. This means that if a patent bites a “ham” sandwich the bread and the ham may separate, with the bread being held in the mouth and the “ham” staying in the body of the sandwich because the anterior teeth will not occlude.

The occlusion on the dentures is designed like this on purpose to encourage the patent to bite and chew using the premolars rather than the incisors which reduces tipping forces on the dentures.

I discuss this with the patient as part of their consent prior to treatment and at the denture delivery stage.

Denture Blog 71

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