• Complete dentures should attempt to ensure adequate masticatory function and enhance clear phonation.

Establishing Tooth Width

In keeping with Gerber’s requirements, the esthetic components of the anterior tooth arrangement must not be dissonant with a patient’s facial appearance.

Establishing maxillary anterior tooth width can be aided by observing the relative widths of the base (ala) and the bridge of the nose. For tooth selection that is harmonious with a patient’s facial appearance, the incisal width of the central incisor should reflect the width of the base of the nose, and the width of the lateral incisor should reflect the width of the bridge of the nose. That is, when the base of the nose is wide, the width of the maxillary central incisor should be wide. If the bridge of the nose is narrow, the lateral incisors should be narrow.

The line joining the distoincisobuccal corners of the central incisors and the base of the nose must be parallel.

Symmetry of the face should be considered in determining the vertical tooth axes, particularly the central incisors.

Selecting Tooth Forms

The shape and form of teeth should be selected in harmony with facial forms:

• Square face with square forms
• Oval face with oval forms
• Triangular face with tapered forms

Identification of facial form may be impaired in the edentulous patient due to inadequate soft tissue support and loss of vertical dimension of occlusion. For this reason, determination of facial shape should occur only when the occlusion rims are in the mouth and the appropriate vertical dimension and the patient is in centric relation.