Robert A. Strohaver, D.D.S., M.Sc.
MUSC College of Dental Medicine.
Charleston, S.C.

One shade of pink for all dentures is no longer acceptable in America and a quality practice requires an awareness of soft tissue shades as well as tooth shades. Modern materials and methods have greatly simplified the task of custom tinting denture bases. (Figures 1&2):

Figure 1: Heavily pigmented gingivae seen in both edentulous and partially edentulous patients present an interesting restorative challenge.

Figure 2: Modern techniques and materials provide the capability to create highly esthetic removable prostheses for patients of all races.

Visible soft tissues simulated by denture bases include the unattached (marginal) gingiva, the attached gingiva, the gingival papillae, the alveolar mucosa, and the frenum attachments. Healthy papillae and the attached and unattached gingiva are described as being coral pink in the Caucasian, although there is much variation in the shade. Physiologic pigmentation caused by melanin-containing cells is a common finding in the gingival tissues of non-Caucasians¹. The following techniques can assist in producing esthetic results for all denture patients.