An assessment of the ability of dental undergraduates to choose artificial teeth which are appropriate for the age and sex of the denture wearer: a pilot study

One of the main objectives in selecting and arranging artificial teeth is to produce prostheses which defy detection. With an appropriate degree of clinical experience and expertise it should be a relatively straightforward procedure to select a suitable artificial tooth mould. However, for the relatively inexperienced dental undergraduate it can be a challenging process. The aim of this study was to assess the ability of dental undergraduates to select artificial teeth which are appropriate for the age and sex of the denture wearer. One hundred and fifty dental undergraduates aged 18-35 were asked to complete a questionnaire to assess their attitudes towards artificial tooth selection and asked to correctly identify six artificial tooth arrangements according to age and sex. The results showed that a large percentage of dental undergraduates at Bristol experience difficulty in selecting artificial teeth which are appropriate for the age and sex of the denture wearer. There is a need for improved training and guidance on artificial tooth selection and arrangement.