Methods used to select artificial anterior teeth for the edentulous patient: a historical overview

Int J Prosthodont. 1999 Jan-Feb;12(1):51-8.

Abstract

Purpose: Selecting artificial teeth for a denture is complex when there are no remaining natural teeth and no pre-extraction records. The aim of this paper is to review the methods used to select artificial anterior teeth for the endentulous individual.

Materials and methods: The review takes account of the majority of papers published during the last 100 years and is organized according to the methods used for determining artificial tooth form.

Results: Several factors have been proposed as aids for artificial tooth selection, and numerous methods have been devised for the evaluation of reliable esthetic factors in determining artificial tooth form.

Conclusion: To date, no universally reliable method of determining tooth form has been found. The Williams classification (1914) is the most universally accepted method of determining anterior tooth form.

Publication types

  • Historical Article
  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Denture Design* / history
  • Denture, Complete*
  • Esthetics, Dental
  • Female
  • History, 19th Century
  • History, 20th Century
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Odontometry
  • Practice Patterns, Dentists'
  • Tooth, Artificial* / history