Complete Dentures History and Modern Concepts

Saturday, 9:30am - 11:30am
Classroom:  Cira A

This fascinating discussion will take us back to the early history of complete dentures, where we learn how global historical events affected the materials we developed and used for dental prosthetics. We will learn about different denture tooth materials from ivory to animal to human and different base materials from metals to vulcanite to celluloid to acrylics. There is even some local Arizona history and a famous murder that changed the way we use dentures throughout the United States. We will then fast forward to the most modern materials and techniques for denture manufacturing and go through some simple processes that can enhance your denture success.

Course Learning Objectives:
- Learn about the history of denture base materials.
- Learn about how world politics and historical events shaped our availability and use of different denture prosthetic materials.
- Discover the hidden Arizona connection to the history of dentures.
- Introduce, compare, and contrast modern denture materials.
- Present a simplified technique that combines the best features of analog and digital workflows for complete denture success.