The importance of a Bite Block!

At Bremadent Dental Laboratory in London, we often say that great dentures do not start with teeth. They start with records. And at the centre of those records sits one of the most underestimated tools in removable prosthodontics: the bite block.

Bite blocks might not look impressive. They are simple wax rims on a baseplate. No aesthetics. No polished surfaces. No high shine. But clinically, they carry enormous responsibility. When used properly, bite blocks determine function, facial harmony, phonetics, occlusion, comfort and long term stability. When used poorly, they create remakes, sore spots, fractured bases, unhappy patients and frustrated dentists.

This blog explains why bite blocks are critical in complete dentures and many partial denture cases, and why careful records at this stage save time, money and stress later.

Facial Support and Aesthetic Assessment
Bite blocks allow you to assess and restore facial support before any teeth are set. In edentulous patients, the loss of alveolar bone and tooth structure reduces lower facial height and lip support. The result is a collapsed profile, thinner lips, deeper nasolabial folds and an aged appearance.

With correctly contoured bite blocks, you can assess:

• Lip support
• Nasolabial angle
• Vermilion display
• Smile line
• Incisal display at rest
• Lower facial third proportions
  
  

This is the stage where you decide whether the patient will look natural or “denture made.” A few millimetres of wax adjustment can dramatically change facial harmony. It is much easier to adjust wax than reset acrylic teeth.

Vertical Dimension of Occlusion OVD
Establishing the correct vertical dimension of occlusion is one of the most important steps in denture construction. Bite blocks allow you to determine and test OVD before committing to tooth position.

Too little vertical dimension results in:

• Over closure
• Angular cheilitis
• Reduced lower facial height
• Poor aesthetics
• Reduced chewing efficiency
• Too much vertical dimension results in:
• Muscle fatigue
• Clicking dentures
• Speech difficulty
• Instability
• Discomfort
  
  

Using bite blocks, you can assess rest position, freeway space, phonetics and facial appearance. You can measure and confirm before proceeding. This protects both the clinician and the patient.

Registering Jaw Relationships
Accurate jaw registration is fundamental to occlusal balance and denture stability. Bite blocks are used to record centric relation in a repeatable and reliable way.

Key objectives include:

• Recording centric relation
• Ensuring midline accuracy
• Aligning upper and lower rims
• Preventing deflection during closure
• Maintaining baseplate stability
  
  

An unstable baseplate will produce inaccurate jaw records. This leads to occlusal errors, rocking dentures and remakes. At Bremadent Dental Laboratory, we always emphasise the importance of stable record bases combined with properly adjusted rims.

Horizontal Plane Orientation
Bite blocks help establish correct horizontal relationships. This includes aligning the occlusal plane with facial reference points.

You should assess:

• Interpupillary line
• Commissure line
• Camper’s plane
• Facial midline

If the occlusal plane is canted, the final denture will look unnatural even if the teeth are beautifully set. Patients notice asymmetry quickly. Correcting plane orientation at the bite block stage avoids aesthetic embarrassment at try in.

Occlusal Plane Determination
The occlusal plane is not arbitrary. It influences:

• Aesthetics
• Chewing efficiency
• Tongue space
• Stability
• Speech
  
  

Bite blocks allow you to mark and verify the correct occlusal plane height and angulation before teeth are set. Adjustments are simple in wax but complex once teeth are processed.

Tooth Size and Tooth Position Planning
Bite blocks are the blueprint for tooth selection. They help determine:

• Incisal edge position
• Tooth display at rest
• Smile arc
• Tooth width estimation
• Arch form
  
  

Using facial measurements and lip dynamics, you can mark canine lines, midline and high smile line directly onto the rim. This information guides the laboratory in selecting appropriate tooth moulds and positioning.

Without accurate rim markings, tooth selection becomes guesswork. Guesswork leads to longer try in appointments and more adjustments.

Phonetic Evaluation
Speech is one of the most powerful tools for verifying vertical dimension and incisal position. Bite blocks allow you to assess phonetics before tooth placement.

You can evaluate:

• F sounds for incisal edge position
• S sounds for vertical dimension
• Closest speaking space
• Lip contact and control
  
  

If phonetics are incorrect at this stage, it is far easier to modify wax rims than reset acrylic teeth later.

Tissue Support and Base Extension

Bite blocks sit on record bases that simulate the future denture base. This allows assessment of:

• Peripheral seal
• Extension accuracy
• Support areas
• Pressure spots
• Stability during function

A well fitting record base ensures that jaw registrations are accurate. A poorly fitting base introduces movement and inaccuracy. Tissue support assessment at this stage reduces post insertion adjustments.

Centric Relation Accuracy and Occlusal Balance
Balanced occlusion in complete dentures depends entirely on accurate records. Bite blocks allow you to capture centric relation without interference from premature tooth contacts.

This supports:

• Even occlusal contacts
• Reduced tipping forces
• Improved chewing
• Greater denture longevity
  
  

If the initial record is wrong, the occlusion will always be compromised. There is no laboratory correction that can fix a fundamentally inaccurate jaw registration.

Patient Communication and Expectation Management
Bite block appointments are an excellent opportunity to involve patients in the process. They can see:

• Facial height restoration
• Lip support changes
• Proposed tooth position
• Smile line planning

This builds trust and reduces surprises at try in. It also demonstrates a structured clinical process, which increases perceived value and confidence.

Reducing Remakes and Chair Time
From a commercial and efficiency perspective, accurate bite block records reduce:

• Remakes
• Adjustment appointments
• Chair time
• Laboratory revisions
• Patient dissatisfaction
  
  

In high volume dental practices, remakes are costly. They affect profit, workflow and team morale. Investing time in bite block accuracy protects your schedule and your reputation.

At Bremadent Dental Laboratory in London, we have decades of combined experience in removable prosthodontics. As a UK based dental laboratory working closely with dentists and dental practices, we see first hand how meticulous records produce predictable outcomes.

Experience matters in denture construction. Expertise matters in occlusion and jaw relationships. Authoritative laboratory support matters when planning complex edentulous cases. Trustworthy communication between clinician and technician ensures consistent results.

The bite block stage is where clinical expertise meets technical precision. When both sides collaborate properly, patients receive stable, functional and aesthetic prostheses.


A skilled dental laboratory does more than process acrylic. We interpret your records. We translate your markings into tooth position. We analyse occlusion and balance. We provide feedback if something looks clinically inconsistent.
When bite blocks are accurate, our technicians can deliver dentures that require minimal adjustment and integrate seamlessly into your clinical workflow.

If you would like support on complete dentures, partial dentures, immediate dentures or complex removable cases, our team at Bremadent Dental Laboratory is here to help.

📞: 0208 520 8528 

 📧: [email protected] 

📍: 25A St James Street, London, E17 7PJ