Preclinics of Dental Prosthetics · MU Sofia

72. Selection of artificial teeth. Orthognathic arrangement of teeth for complete dentures.

Covers how artificial teeth are chosen for complete dentures in four parts: upper front teeth, lower front teeth, back teeth and shade. It gives a table of width, length, shape, shade and material guidance for the front teeth, including face form matched to the upper central incisor and the dentogenic concept. It then describes back-tooth dimensions and cusp forms, and walks through the orthognathic setting of upper and lower teeth after Gysi on a glass plate, with a diagram of the upper teeth showing the height of each cusp above the occlusal plane.

Inside: 4 sections · 1 labelled picture · 1 table · 15 flashcards · 3 min

Topic 72 of 75 in the MU Sofia syllabus for Preclinics of Dental Prosthetics (Dental Medicine, Year 2). The free AceMed note covers it in 4 sections, about 354 words (3 min of reading), with 15 flashcards.

In this note

  1. Introduction
  2. Selecting the front teeth
  3. Selecting the back teeth
  4. Orthognathic arrangement after Gysi

Introduction

Choosing artificial teeth combines science (measurements, records) with art (the clinician's eye and the patient's wishes). Selection is done in four parts: upper front teeth, lower front teeth, back teeth, and shade.

Selecting the front teeth

The dentogenic concept (Frush and Fisher) adapts the selection to sex, personality and age (topic 19).

Selecting the back teeth

  • Mesiodistal length: from the distal of the lower canine to the start of the retromolar pad; usually two premolars and two molars.
  • Buccolingual width: narrower than natural teeth, which lowers the force needed to chew and leaves room for correct polished surfaces.
  • Height: fits the interarch space; the first premolar should match the canine.
  • Cusp form: anatomic (33° Gysi), semi-anatomic, or non-anatomic (flat, 0°, monoplane) teeth. Flat teeth reduce lateral forces on poor ridges or when centric is uncertain; anatomic teeth chew better and allow balanced occlusion.

Orthognathic arrangement after Gysi

In preclinical training the teeth are set by Gysi's classical concept on a glass plate representing the occlusal plane.

Upper teeth

  • Central incisors: labial faces 8–10 mm ahead of the incisive papilla; long axis vertical or slightly tilted distally; incisal edge touches the plane.
  • Lateral incisors: 0.5 mm above the plane, necks tilted lingually and distally.
  • Canines: tip touches the plane; at the canine line; slightly less distal tilt than the laterals.
  • First premolar: upright; buccal cusp touches, lingual cusp 0.5–1 mm above. Second premolar: both cusps touch.
  • First molar: mesiobuccal cusp 0.5 mm, distobuccal 1–1.5 mm above the plane; central fissure over the ridge crest. Second molar: mesiobuccal 1 mm, distobuccal 1.5 mm above.

Lower teeth

  • Incisors: bases on the ridge crest, edges inclined labially; overlapped by the upper incisors by 0.5–1 mm; midline matching the upper.
  • Canines: tip level with the incisors; between the upper lateral and canine (about 8° to the sagittal and 10–12° to the frontal plane).
  • First molar first (key of occlusion: upper mesiobuccal cusp in its buccal groove), then the second molar and the premolars, buccal cusps in the upper central fossae and over the lower ridge crest.

The rising back teeth produce the compensating curves of Spee and Wilson for balanced occlusion, so the dentures stay seated in side and forward movements.

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