Differences Between Natural Teeth and Artificial Dentures

The essential difference between natural and artificial teeth is that the former are firmly rooted in the bone of the jaws and in consequence they can incise, tear and finely grind food of any character because the lower teeth can move across the upper teeth with powerful shearing action. Artificial denture, on the other hand, merely rest on the alveolar redges and are held there by weak forces. In addition, they are subject to powerful displacing forces so their efficiency as a masticatory apparatus is limited. This efficiency can vary within wide limits depending on the shape and size of the edentulous jaws, the type of mucosa covering these jaws, the mental attitude of the patient to the dentures, his ability to learn to use them, and the skill of the operator.