They're often used as comic relief

它們常使用在電影或皮克斯的動畫短片中

in movies and Pixar animated shorts,

作為一種「笑」果

but they play a big part in the daily lives

但對大約兩千萬的美國人來說

of about 20 million people in America,

它們在現實中有很大的功用

and it's not just older people wearing them.

而且不只老年人會戴

But how exactly are they made?

但它們到底是怎麼做的？

Dentures have come a long way.

假牙已經進步很多

This set took two fittings and was shipped

這套裝置使用兩個配件，在準備配戴前

between two locations before it was ready to wear.

會在兩個位置間移動

The first thing to know is that a full set of dentures

首先要知道，整套假牙

has a flesh-colored acrylic base that fits over the gums.

有一個肉色的壓克力基底，來接合牙齦

The upper portion covers the roof of your mouth,

上半部蓋住你的嘴巴頂部

and the lower is a horseshoe shape

下半部是馬蹄形

that accommodates the tongue.

可容納舌頭

Now that we know the basics,

我們現在有了基本知識

let's learn how dentures are made.

來了解假牙是怎麼做的

First, a prosthodontist makes an impression

首先，口腔修復醫生

to capture the patient's upper and lower gums.

會對患者的上下牙齦做印模

A thick paste gets placed into the patient's mouth for a few seconds.

將濃稠的糊狀物放入患者的嘴裡幾秒鐘

While the impression is still gooey,

雖然印模仍是膠狀

it's poured into a stone, which acts as a cast.

但倒入石膏後，就變成了模型

This cast is now a replica of the patient's mouth,

這個模型現在就是患者口腔的複製品

which comes in handy during the final stages of creating the dentures.

在做假牙的最後階段會派上用場

In the meantime,

同時

the patient tries on different sets of dentures

患者會嘗試使用不同的假牙組

to determine the size and color of their soon-to-be teeth.

來決定未來牙齒的大小和顏色

From there, the prosthodontist makes a few adjustments to the cast.

這個時候，口腔修復醫生會對模型做一些調整

Next, the cast of the mouth is sent to the lab

下一步，口腔模型會送到

where the dentures get made.

製作假牙的實驗室

Using the patient's cast as reference,

使用患者的口腔作為參照

the lab starts to create the wax version of the gum line.

實驗室開始製作牙齦線的蠟版

The teeth, made of acrylic resin —

牙齒用壓克力樹脂製作

a material that looks very similar to real teeth — are set in place.

它是一種看起來與真實牙齒非常相似的材料，已經就位了

Minor touches get made to the wax around the teeth

輕微觸摸牙齒周圍的蠟

then get sent back to the prosthodontist.

然後送回口腔修復醫生。

After the wax dentures are approved

在蠟型假牙由患者和口腔修復醫生

by both the patient and the prosthodontist for fit and look,

確認合適度和外型後

they're sent back to the lab to finish the process.

會再送回實驗室完成加工

The wax is just temporary.

蠟只是暫時的

It gets replaced by an acrylic,

它會由壓克力所代替

which is more aesthetically pleasing and realistic-looking.

這更美觀、更具現實感。

The lab boils the dentures to get rid of the wax portions.

實驗室將假牙煮沸以除去蠟的部分

Holes are indented into the teeth

牙齒上壓了很多洞

so the material can attach to it.

這樣材料可以附在牙齒上

Then, a machine called the IvoBase

接著，一台叫 IvoBase 的機器

injects the acrylic liquid into the molds

將壓克力液體注入模具中

to stick to the denture teeth.

以固定在假牙上

The dentures are cleaned up and polished.

將假牙清乾淨和磨亮

They're now ready for the patient.

就可以讓患者戴上了