What is the main goal when fabricating complete dentures?

The main goal when fabricating complete dentures is to replace lost anatomy. Complete dentures serve to restore the functional and aesthetic aspects of a patient's oral cavity that have been lost due to tooth loss. This restoration includes recreating the form and function of the lips and cheeks, as well as providing support to facial structures. By replacing the missing hard and soft tissues, complete dentures help improve the patient's overall quality of life, making eating, speaking, and smiling more natural and effective.

While restoring phonetics, enhancing facial aesthetics, and ensuring proper occlusion are indeed important considerations in the overall design and function of complete dentures, they all serve as secondary goals that contribute to the primary purpose of anatomy replacement. Ultimately, the core focus remains on restoring the structural integrity and balance of the mouth as well as the surrounding tissues, which can lead to enhanced functionality and appearance as a result of that foundational aim.