Gordon’s Complete Denture Journey: Lessons from 60 Years Without Teeth

The challenge

When I first met Gordon on a Zoom call with his daughter, he explained that he had not had any teeth for six decades. He had never worn a lower denture and had no interest in dental implants. His grandson, a dentist, encouraged him to see me.

I explained from the outset that wearing a lower denture after so many years would be extremely difficult. The lower ridge was flat and offered little support. Gordon would need patience, practice, and determination if he was to succeed.

The process

Rowan and I made him new upper and lower dentures. Using old photographs of his natural teeth, we copied the appearance closely and made them age appropriate. Rowan characterised the dentures with small cracks, subtle staining, and natural detailing so they looked entirely believable.

During treatment, Gordon brought thoughtful gifts, including jars of his homemade honey, which made the process even more enjoyable.

A unique challenge arose during bite registration. Out of more than one thousand complete dentures I have made, this was the only case where my central bearing tracing device did not give the correct result. At the try-in stage, Gordon’s bite was wrong. The solution was to register at his habitual intercuspal position, using a tapping point. This worked well and allowed us to proceed successfully.

The outcome

Two years on, Gordon wears his upper denture full-time. He wears the lower only for social occasions, such as meals with his family. At home, he often leaves it out. This may not sound like a complete success, but because expectations were managed carefully from the start, it has been a very positive outcome. Gordon is confident, comfortable, and happy.

Key lessons

  • Success with complete dentures requires the patient to be fully engaged. In this case, I would estimate 30% of the success was down to the technical work by Rowan and me, and 70% was Gordon’s own effort.

  • Old photographs are invaluable in guiding tooth positioning and aesthetics.

  • Things do not always go to plan. When the central bearing tracing device failed, finding an alternative approach was essential.

  • Success should be judged not only on whether a denture is worn all the time, but on whether the patient feels confident and satisfied.

Learn more

If you would like to explore cases like this in more depth, I offer a range of resources and teaching opportunities: