Setting Anterior Teeth

Esthetics & Phonetics

 Look for Symmetry

View from anterior, occlusal

View from many angles
 Symmetry

Perfect Gross
Symmetry Asymmetry
 Facial Asymmetry

2 Left Sides “ Normal” 2 Right Sides

 Smile Asymmetry

2 Left Sides “ Normal” 2 Right Sides

 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
Cervical necks tilt posteriorly from central incisor to canine
 Contour of Gingiva
– Expose to CEJ
– Contour affects appearance

Cervical Neck of Canine Should be

Cervical Necks Covered in 2nd Quadrant
Longer than Incisors
The greatest height
of the free gingival
margin is slightly
distal to the
mesiodistal center of
the tooth
Setting Mandibular Anteriors

Lower anterior teeth

incline similar to
maxillary teeth
 Setting Mandibular Anteriors
• Incisal edges are placed at same level
• Even with occlusal plane
 Setting Mandibular Anteriors

• No overbite for
monoplane or
lingualized
setups
 Canines should be tilted more
posteriorly than other teeth, with a
more prominent cervical neck
 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
 Bucco-Lingual Tilt
Mandibular Anterior Teeth

• Central is proclined

• Lateral is more upright

• Canine has a
prominent neck

Central Canine
 Bucco-Lingual Tilt
Mandibular Anterior Teeth

• View at different angles

• Along facial surface

• Occlusal
 Anterior Tooth Setup

• Check symmetry with

reference lines

• Anterior teeth don’t contact

in centric position Overbite = 0mm

• Grazing contacts in
excursions Overjet = 2mm
No Anterior Contact Insufficient
in Centric

Excessive

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

Improper offset
results in a
space or half
Insufficient tooth
replacement
 Phonetic Assessment

• Maxillary centrals should lightly

touch vermilion border of lower
lip for ‘F’, ‘V’ sounds

• ‘S’ sounds - incisal edges should

approximate each other
 Intraoral Assessment of Anterior
Teeth

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

• Nasolabial angle ≈ 90°

• If insufficient support,
the vermilion border
will be reduced
 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
Intraoral Assessment of Anterior
Teeth

Excessive block-out of record base

will push the lip out at the height of
the vestibule, distorting appearance
 Lisping

• Too much horizontal overlap

• Can’t approximate incisal
edges
• Anterior teeth too far labially
• Spaces allow air leakage
 Lisping
• Palatal contour too constricted
• Remove wax to provide more room
• Arch form too broad
• Experiment with placement of
wax
 Anterior Teeth
Not Identical Position of Natural Teeth

• Slightly altered position from precursors

• No anchorage from roots
• Denture stability an issue
 Avoid the ‘Denture Smile’
• Teeth too small
• Too straight across
anterior
• “Chiclets”
• Teeth not showing
Central & lateral
incisors must
begin to turn
along curvature
of the arch
Circumference Follows Arch Shape
Facial Support, OVD & Tooth Setup
Can Dramatically Affect Appearance
Effect of Incisor Length
Variation of Appearance with Different
Dentures
Variation of Appearance
with Different Dentures
 Videos:
Setting Anterior Teeth

• Set Maxillary Anterior Teeth

• Set Mandibular Anterior Teeth