Dentures are created using the “lost wax” (cir-perdue) method, a process that has been used since about 3000 B.C., the Bronze Age. This process is still used by fine artists to create jewelry and sculpture.

The lost wax process entails using a wax mold that is based on an impression of the patient’s mouth. This mold is then sculpted by hand to support the mouth’s natural form and appearance. A stone casing is then placed around this mold and, after the wax is melted and removed, the resulting cavity is injected with a special dental acrylic. Once the outer stone casing is removed, the resulting denture is refined and finished by hand.