Comment by wekkins on 09/03/2025 at 23:30 UTC

6941 upvotes, 40 direct replies (showing 25)

View submission: Amazing how it can be life changing

I used to fabricate dentures for a living. My main role in the lab was finishing them: adding the anatomy, making the gum line look natural, cleaning them up and putting the final touches on them. The cases often had a model of the patient's mouth inside, and particularly with partial dentures, I could really see the before and after. Every now and then I would finish and admire my work for a second, thinking about what a big deal this was going to be for the recipient, frequently to a life changing degree. It was the most rewarding job I ever had.

Replies

Comment by mcmillanuk at 10/03/2025 at 00:26 UTC

1361 upvotes, 4 direct replies

The original tooth fairy…

Comment by FantasticFunKarma at 10/03/2025 at 01:05 UTC

212 upvotes, 1 direct replies

It is life-changing. You worked with stuff that brought happiness (and a pain in the ass) to humans. lol. My mother was Dutch, and dentistry in the 50/60’s had n the Netherlands was limited. She had all the top teeth out. I remember her getting a set of dentures in her thirties that finally made her face smile feel like it was hers.

Comment by worthlesscommotion at 10/03/2025 at 02:50 UTC

237 upvotes, 7 direct replies

As someone who recently got dentures after years of abscesses, infections, and constant pain - thank you. Despite regular care and a relatively healthy life, my teeth began rotting as soon as my adult teeth came in.

My dentures have been life changing. I can eat normally after years of being so careful out of fear of breaking a tooth (I once broke a molar eating a strawberry, and had an abscess before I could get into a dentist to fix it). I can smile with confidence. They look real. The work you did had a very profound impact on so many people. Thank you.

Comment by DumbMassDebater at 10/03/2025 at 02:35 UTC

28 upvotes, 0 direct replies

As a dude who is getting his dentures, i appreciate the care and work and even my temp ones made me insanely happy cause they were the what could be.

Comment by sloths-n-stuff at 10/03/2025 at 01:24 UTC

19 upvotes, 1 direct replies

I'm so curious, how did you get into that line of work? (Obvs only if you're comfortable sharing)

Comment by 4ever_Romeo at 10/03/2025 at 04:20 UTC

2 upvotes, 0 direct replies

Life-changing indeed. Thanks for doing what you do.

Comment by silverclovd at 10/03/2025 at 04:21 UTC

2 upvotes, 1 direct replies

It really does. Like it or not, vanity is human. Of course, the utility comes first but you cannot undersell the impact a good look can have on one's self-esteem. I'm sure people thanked your craft every now and then for having created that positive change in their lives.

Comment by _Mys_ at 10/03/2025 at 05:37 UTC

2 upvotes, 0 direct replies

Reddit is such a wild place lol

Comment by batwork61 at 10/03/2025 at 12:03 UTC

2 upvotes, 0 direct replies

I am getting 3 implants soon, #13, #14, and #15. I am so so so so so excited. I haven’t had top molars in a couple of years. Many thanks to you guys.

Comment by lilshortyy420 at 10/03/2025 at 12:38 UTC

2 upvotes, 1 direct replies

Me too! I’m an all on x technician and on surgery days if the patient cries I’m crying with them 🥹

Comment by Dry_Presentation_197 at 10/03/2025 at 12:47 UTC

2 upvotes, 1 direct replies

I was a dental lab tech for 7 years =) did 3yrs in removables. I agree tbh, I wish I was still in the industry. Loved that job.

Side note: If this patient matched her old tooth shade, kudos for taking care of her teeth so well. If she decided to choose a whiter shade for aesthetics (as many, myself included for my full upper zirc bridge), she may have gone a tad too bright =p

Obviously it's their choice and I wouldn't push them on it, but we had loads of people get BL1 when they were a D2 before, heh

Comment by Spugheddy at 10/03/2025 at 12:53 UTC

2 upvotes, 0 direct replies

I got dentures at 30 and it is still the best memory I have . My face hurt the next week from smiling so much. Thx.

Comment by Crookeye at 10/03/2025 at 13:23 UTC

2 upvotes, 1 direct replies

I was a dental lab technician for 9 1/2 years. I mostly made the models. Never once did I think of it like that. I liked the job, but for some reason, that never crossed my mind

Comment by Doritos_Jesus at 10/03/2025 at 15:08 UTC

2 upvotes, 1 direct replies

Honestly one of the best jobs I’ve ever had was Lab Tech, I worked in a lab where I owned the whole case from setting teeth to finishing. Such a great feeling of accomplishment when someone says I haven’t wanted to smile in years and now I can. I ended up having to find a job with better benefits, but I think about how much I loved helping people and would go back in an instant if I could support myself with that job again.

Comment by No-Asparagus1046 at 10/03/2025 at 16:11 UTC

2 upvotes, 0 direct replies

I can see how creating something to fundamentally help someone’s life would be gratifying

Comment by CementCemetery at 10/03/2025 at 16:22 UTC

2 upvotes, 0 direct replies

Thank you for the work you did. It takes a lot of skill and care to make them look proper. I applaud you for helping others because it truly is life changing. I wanted to be a dentist when I was younger and I’d like to think if I followed through with it I would have done something similar to this. It really is fascinating work and like I said like changing (and affirming).

I hope you have a wonderful week.

Comment by clckwrks at 10/03/2025 at 16:28 UTC

2 upvotes, 0 direct replies

You are awesome 🙌

Comment by littlewhitecatalex at 10/03/2025 at 16:34 UTC

2 upvotes, 0 direct replies

I appreciate people like you who realize their work affects someone’s life in a major way.

Comment by unusual_opinions_123 at 10/03/2025 at 18:08 UTC

2 upvotes, 1 direct replies

Ill tell you it made a massive difference in my life. My dentist and the surgeon put real effort and work to make sure I got what I needed. I have 10 pins and top bottom plates. Snap in not permanents. They look real and function 90% as good as my originals. You're on the mark about being life changing.

I quite literally had to relearn smiling so I didn't look like a lunatic. For the first month or two I looked like a dog doing the smile thing. Lips all twisted up and stuck to my teeth. I think I had to rebuild the muscles used to smile. After like 6 months I could smile like a human and show my teeth.

Comment by gorramfrakker at 10/03/2025 at 20:32 UTC

2 upvotes, 0 direct replies

Thank you for your work.

Comment by istigisti at 10/03/2025 at 03:33 UTC

2 upvotes, 0 direct replies

where's this person's medal people ??

Comment by Ill-Case-6048 at 10/03/2025 at 02:33 UTC

1 upvotes, 1 direct replies

Did you sign them

Comment by Naive-Biscotti1150 at 10/03/2025 at 03:17 UTC

1 upvotes, 1 direct replies

Just curious.Like what happens when people get much older and the gums start to shrink.Does the set get made again? What adjustments are made for shrinking gums?