Today’s Dentures: How They’ve Evolved

If you’re planning to wear dentures in Orlando to restore your smile, be prepared to join the millions of others who have found success with these reliable prosthetics. Since the days of the earliest civilizations, humans have used all types of materials to replicate and replace missing teeth. As you prepare to begin your journey to a complete and healthy smile, learn how dentures have evolved into the prosthetics we know today.

The Early Days

To have a clear understanding of how dentures came to be and how the earliest humans used critical thinking to find materials designed to improve their smiles, here is a brief, historical timeline:

• Northern Italy Etruscans (700 B.C.) – They used human/animal teeth and gold wire to create dentures. However, they proved to be unstable.
• Ancient Mayans – They used carved stone and seashells to create teeth that fused with a person’s jawbone.
• Japan (16^th century) – The first set of dentures was made out of wood. This style and process were used throughout the 17^th and 18^th centuries.
• Britain (1774) – The first pair of porcelain dentures were created, only for a silversmith to add porcelain teeth and gold plates with springs and swivels in 1820.
• The Mid-1800s – Porcelain became costly for most people, so the Goodyear family created dentures using hard rubber and vulcanite.
• The 1950s – Dental implants were invented after a Swedish orthopedic surgeon discovered the effectiveness of fusing titanium with bone.

The Dentures of Today

Acrylic and porcelain are most commonly used to create the dentures you see today. While they’ve come a long way from seashells and gold wire, the purpose of these prosthetics remains the same – to replace and restore incomplete smiles.

Although many unique factors can determine how a denture is created or the type of prosthetic a person needs, this tried-and-true solution helps to give people like yourself a new lease on life. After capturing impressions of your teeth, your dentist in Orlando sends them to a dental lab where technicians work to fabricate a beautiful, intricate, and delicate prosthetic that looks beautiful and feels comfortable.

While dentures may no longer be the only solution available on the market these days thanks to dental implants, dentists continue to provide them as an affordable and effective way to improve a person’s ability to eat, speak, and smile with greater ease.

If you are looking to replace your missing teeth with a safe, reliable, and time-tested solution, you can’t go wrong with traditional dentures. Talk to your dentist today to find out how these prosthetics can help change your life.

About the Author

Dr. John E. Russo earned his dental DMD degree with honors from the University of Florida in 1993. He also earned his Advanced Education in General Dentistry (AEGD) from Wright-Patterson Medical Center at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base. As a skilled dentist, he can improve smiles using tried-and-true solutions like dentures. Made from high-quality materials, these prosthetics make it possible for individuals to feel confident and comfortable once again. If you are looking to replace your missing teeth, visit our website or call (407) 470-1224.

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