1. Setting Anterior Teeth
Esthetics & Phonetics

2. View from anterior, occlusal View from many angles
Look for Symmetry
View from anterior, occlusal
View from many angles

3. Symmetry
Perfect Symmetry
Gross Asymmetry

4. Facial Asymmetry
2 Left Sides “Normal” Right Sides

5. Smile Asymmetry
2 Left Sides “Normal” Right Sides

6. Setting Anterior Teeth
Incisal edges of central incisors & canines at level of the occlusal plane
Laterals placed approximately 0.5 mm above the occlusal plane

7. Cervical necks tilt posteriorly from the central incisor to the canine

8. The greatest height of the free gingival margin is slightly distal to the mesiodistal center of the tooth

9. Setting Mandibular Anteriors
Lower anterior teeth incline similar to the maxillary teeth

10. Setting Mandibular Anteriors
Incisal edges are placed at the same level
Even with the occlusal plane

11. Setting Mandibular Anteriors
No overbite for monoplane or lingualized setups

12. Canines should be tilted more posteriorly than other teeth, with a more prominent cervical neck

13. Bucco-Lingual Tilt Maxillary Anterior Teeth
Facial surface of central is perpendicular occlusal plane
Neck of lateral is depressed
Neck of canine is prominent
Central
Canine

14. Bucco-Lingual Tilt Mandibular Anterior Teeth
Central is proclined
Lateral is more upright
Canine has a prominent neck
Central
Canine

15. Anterior Tooth Setup Check symmetry with reference lines
Anterior teeth don’t contact in centric position
Grazing contacts in excursions
Overbite = 0mm
Overjet = 2mm

16. No Anterior Contact in Centric
Insufficient
Correct
Excessive

17. Dentist Sets Incisal Guidance Overjet & Overbite
Avoid too much overbite or too little overjet
Increasing overbite steepens the angle, separating posterior teeth more quickly
Increasing overjet shallows the angle, separating the posterior teeth less quickly

18. Canine Offset
Check for one half tooth offset between maxillary & mandibular teeth
Ensures posterior teeth have normal cusp to fossa relationship for lingualized occlusion

19. Improper offset results in a space or half tooth replacement
Cannine Offset
Correct
Improper offset results in a space or half tooth replacement
Insufficient

20. Phonetic Assessment
Maxillary centrals should lightly touch vermilion border of lower lip for ‘F’, ‘V’ sounds
‘S’ sounds - incisal edges should approximate each other

21. Intraoral Assessment of Anterior Teeth
Incisal edges of maxillary incisors should follow line of lower lip when smiling (‘smile line’)

22. Follow the ‘Smile line’

23. Placing & Moving Anterior Teeth
Crown removing forceps to bodily move and tilt teeth
Grind record base/tooth if record base is impairing ability to position properly

24. Intraoral Assessment of Anterior Teeth
Nasolabial angle ≈ 90°
If insufficient support, the vermilion border will be reduced

25. Intraoral Assessment of Anterior Teeth
Junction of oral mucosa (glossy) should just be visible when lips are slightly separated
If not visible - insufficient support
Lips meet at junction of oral & transitional epithelium

26. Intraoral Assessment of Anterior Teeth
Excessive block-out of record base will push the lip out at the height of the vestibule, distorting appearance

27. Lisping Too much horizontal overlap Anterior teeth too far labially
Can’t approximate incisal edges
Anterior teeth too far labially
Spaces allow air leakage

28. Lisping Palatal contour too constricted Arch form too broad
Remove wax to provide more room
Arch form too broad
Experiment with placement of wax

29. Anterior Teeth Not Identical Position of Natural Teeth
Slightly altered position from precursors
Denture stability compromised
No anchorage from roots

30. Avoid the ‘Denture Smile’
Teeth too small
Teeth not showing
Too straight across anterior
“Chiclets”

31. Central & lateral incisors must begin to turn along the curvature of the arch

32. Circumference Follows Arch Shape

33. Facial Support, OVD & Tooth Setup Can Dramatically Affect Appearance

34. Effect of Incisor Length

35. Variation of Appearance with Different Dentures

36. Variation of Appearance with Different Dentures