HISTORY OF DENTURES

Sets of dentures have been found dating from the 15th century and probably existed before that time. Carved from bone or ivory, or made up of teeth from dead or living donors, these dentures were uncomfortable and rotted after extended use. The first porcelain dentures were made around 1770 by Alexis Duchateau. In 1791 the first Britishpatent was granted to Nicholas Dubois De Chemant, previously assistant to Duchateau3d printed dentures . De Chemant's patent specification said (in part): "A composition for the purpose of making of artificial teeth either single double or in rows or in complete sets and also springs for fastening or affixing the same in a more easy and effectual manner than any hitherto discovered which said teeth may be made of any shade or color, which they will retain for any length of time and will consequently more perfectly resemble the natural teeth. " He began selling his dentures in 1792 with most of his porcelain paste supplied by Wedgwood. Single teeth in porcelain were made from 1808. Later, dentures were made of vulcanite and then, in the 20th century, acrylic resin and other plastics. In Britain in 1968 79% of those aged 65-74 had no natural teeth, by 1998 this proportion had fallen to 36%.

There are many accounts of scavengers who, in ancient times, after hand-to-hand battles, searched the battlefields and removed healthy teeth from dead warrior's mouths and then sold those teeth to local dentists who invented ways to make the "recycled" teeth into new dentures for their patients.

GEORGE WASHINGTON

In addition, there are legends about George Washington and his problems with dentures. Legends say he first had a local wood carver make him set of oak dentures, later, we are told, he had several other dentures carved out of elephant tusk ivory.

TECHNICAL DETAILS

What follows is a technical explanation about dentures, or, more accurately, removable complete dentures, also called full-mouth false teeth. A denture is used when a patient has no teeth left on the mandibular arch, the maxillary arch, or both. Patients can become entirely edentulous (without teeth) either due to ineffective oral hygiene or trauma. Removable complete dentures, can help give the edentulous patient better masticator (chewing) abilities, as well as enhance the esthetic appeal of their lips in specific and the entire face in general.

Removable partial dentures are for patients who are missing only some of their teeth on a particular arch. Fixed partial dentures, better known as crowns and bridges, are also for patients missing only some of their teeth, but these are more expensive than removable appliances, and they have some unique constraints in certain specific instances.