Acrylic Dentures

The use of acrylic dentures falls under removable prosthetics and involves the fabrication of a removable structure that imitates the mucosa and teeth. In some cases, acrylic dentures can also be non-removable (if they are placed on implants).

With a slight stretch, it can be said that acrylic dentures appeared at the end of the 19th century. German dentist Karl Lande created a removable denture made from a material close to modern acrylic. However, acrylic dentures became widely used only in the 20th century — after the emergence of plastic materials.

Acrylic dentures, unlike clasp prostheses, are made from lightweight and comfortable-to-wear materials. They exert less pressure on the oral mucosa and contribute significantly less to bone thinning.

The production of dentures is based on the use of certain types of acrylic plastics. However, to achieve all dental goals, one material is not enough, so a combination is used:

• Polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA) — used as the primary material.
• Acrylic resins — used to enhance the strength of the denture and achieve the desired color.
• Pigments — used to obtain the desired color of artificial teeth that would resemble the patient’s natural teeth.
• Other additives — in some cases, metal inserts may be needed to give the denture an anatomically correct shape.

An acrylic denture differs from a clasp prosthesis in that it can be installed to replace both a portion of lost natural teeth and all of the patient’s teeth (on an edentulous jaw).

Types of Acrylic Dentures

Acrylic dentures in cases of complete tooth loss are held in place by adhering to the gums. A full removable acrylic denture will hold well on the lower jaw. For the upper jaw, due to gravity, adhesion to the mucosa alone is insufficient. Therefore, an acrylic denture for the upper jaw is made with a palatal section — to increase the adhesion area.

A partial removable acrylic denture on the upper jaw can be made without a palate, in which case it will be additionally fixed using hooks on the patient’s own teeth.

For better fixation of full acrylic dentures, special pastes and adhesives are used: carboxymethylcellulose-based, silicone, acrylic, or powder adhesives.

Our clinic specialists do not recommend using acrylic dentures for permanent wear. Removable dentures are always very uncomfortable, fall short in aesthetic performance, and require constant adjustment. Acrylic dentures can be used as a temporary measure or when there are direct medical contraindications for implant-based prosthetics.

Acrylic dentures may be installed under the following medical indications:

• complete and partial loss of natural teeth;
• the need for temporary prosthetics during two-stage implant installation;
• rehabilitation after surgical intervention;
• impossibility of using other types of prosthetics (implantation).

Acrylic dental prosthetics has a number of medical contraindications:

• mucosal diseases (periodontitis, parodontitis, etc.);
• allergy to acrylic and other prosthetic materials;
• anatomical features (deformation or resorption (volume reduction) of the jaw bone).

• Relatively low cost of acrylic dentures (compared to clasp prostheses)
• Lighter weight (compared to clasp prostheses)
• Higher aesthetic performance (compared to clasp prostheses)
• Versatility (can be used as a temporary measure to replace one, several, or all teeth)

• Low wear resistance (loses color over time)
• Less durability
• Need for constant adjustment to maintain proper fit
• Effect on food taste

Acrylic and other types of dentures have virtually no advantages compared to implant-based prosthetics. Only implant-based prosthetics allows achieving a result where artificial teeth feel like the patient’s own and look even better than natural ones.

Acrylic dentures can also be installed on implants. If a patient has no natural teeth at all, a removable acrylic denture can be placed on the lower jaw on two implants. They will serve as supports onto which the denture snaps.

Implant-based prosthetics of the upper jaw is impossible using only two units. The minimum required number of implants for upper jaw prosthetics is 4. In this case, it involves creating a non-removable dental prosthesis.

Acrylic dentures are fabricated in a dental laboratory using impressions taken by a dentist.

Before installing an acrylic denture, it is necessary to perform oral sanitation and, if needed, treat teeth and mucosa.

Prosthetic stages:

• taking impressions;
• fabricating the model;
• fitting the denture (if necessary);
• adjustment and installation of the denture.

An acrylic denture requires thorough care. The denture must be cleaned after every meal — you can use a soft or special toothbrush. It is not advisable to use regular toothpaste as it may damage the denture — it is better to use special cleaning agents. Once a week, the denture should be placed in a disinfecting solution.

Acrylic dentures should not be rinsed in very hot water, as this may cause material deformation. It is also important not to forget about scheduled dental visits for adjustment and fitting of the denture, usually every 6–12 months.

In most clinics in Ukraine and Kyiv, price is named among the key advantages of removable acrylic dentures. And indeed, the cost of acrylic dentures is lower than, for example, clasp prostheses. However, the final price for patients may vary.

Prices for acrylic dentures can differ and depend on many factors. An acrylic denture for the upper jaw may cost more than one for the lower jaw. This is due to the need for more complex calculations, as the upper jaw denture is made with a palatal section.

The price of an acrylic denture for one tooth in most Kyiv clinics reaches 4,500–5,000 hryvnias. And the price of acrylic dentures for the entire jaw reaches 10,000–14,000 hryvnias.