Every patient is eager to see what their new dentures (or false teeth) look like, and for good reason. But how can you judge if it's really going to be grand?
Coco Chanel, the world-renowned fashion designer, once said that if you notice a lady's clothes, she's poorly dressed; if you notice the lady instead, she's impeccably dressed. That same philosophy can help prosthodontics wearers to assess for themselves what looks right.
During the wax try-in appointment, when you're "fine-tuning" your replacement teeth, you may be tempted to peer at them while holding them in your hands, or evaluate what you see in the mirror through bifocals. While this "view" will give you an idea of the construction of your new denture, it's not how other people will see it.
Your prosthodontist can create a rugged or delicate, masculine or feminine, assertive or passive, youthful or mature look. Youthfulness can be achieved by a curved smile line, showing the two front teeth more than those on each side, and having a darker translucent edge on those front teeth. False teeth can be brought down where they are more visible and placed further forward to plump out a thin upper lip. If teeth are arranged evenly in a flat line, it makes a person look older.
Any of these qualities can be realized in a new denture, but they won't show while it is in your hand. A good denturist invests time and all his care to make your denture look best, in your mouth, where it belongs. Look at your dentures in the mirror from a conversational distance, while you talk or smile. And if your friends don't notice it, your prosthodontist has done a good job.