Aesthetics is very demanding to the partial edentulous patients. The available treatment options to treat partial edentulism are fixed partial dentures or dental implants or removable dentures. The factors affecting the choice of prosthesis are the aesthetic requirements, periodontal tooth condition, cost, anatomical limitations and patient’s acceptability.
Polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA) has been used for a very long time to fabricate the dentures to replace the missing teeth in oral cavity and it has also come up with different modifications and reinforcements to enhance its strength by reinforcing with different materials like metals, fibers etc. But it has some drawbacks too what limits its use in modern dentistry.
DRAWBACKS OF CONVENTIONAL DENTURE BASE MATERIALS
- Poor mechanical strength.
- Non- esthetic due to visibility of metal clasps.
- No flexibility. Exerts pressure on tissues.
- More time consuming to prepare.
- Residual monomer sensitivity.
With the advancement of the newer materials like flexible thermoplastic denture base materials, drawbacks offered by the conventional denture base materials can be avoided easily.
Flexible thermoplastic materials are resins which offers a conservative and alternative approach to the conventional removable partial denture by virtue of its flexibility which utilizes the undesirable undercuts for retention without any metallic display.
Modern dentistry is showing its inclination towards flexible material for removable dentures because it is more esthetic, retentive and strong.
ADVANTAGES OF FLEXIBLE DENTURE BASE MATERIALS - Aesthetic
- Flexibility
- More strength than conventional denture base materials
- Use of undesirable undercuts for retention without preparation of any rest seats.
- Less time consuming to prepare than conventional dentures.
- Metal free. Highly used for patients having allergy to metals.
- No residual monomer. Compatible to the oral tissues.
In Aesthetica, we offer flexible dentures ( Bio Dentaplast, Valplast) to provide our patients an aesthetic yet biocompatible and strong dentures to replace missing teeth and oral structures to create a healthy oral environment.
