Acrylic dentures

What are Acrylic Dentures?

Acrylic dentures consist of the denture teeth attached to an acrylic base plate.

How they Work?

Stability (not rocking) and retention (grip) come from 3 aspects of the acrylic denture:

  1. The denture fitting closely and tightly against the gums and natural teeth
  2. The use of wrought metal clasps (retainers) to grip the teeth
  3. In cases where only a few teeth remain; a well fitting base plate, covering as much of the hard tissue, (that’s the jawbone, palate and ridges) in your mouth as possible.

They are ‘mucosal borne dentures’- meaning they get support (resist chewing forces) by sitting on your ridges.<

What are their Advantages?

  • Cheapest
  • Quick and easy to make (though not necessarily to get right)
  • Easy to change- add teeth, reline etc.
  • Easiest to take in and out

What are their Dis-advantages?

  • least comfortable and well tolerated
  • least stable
  • least grip (retention)
  • often bigger and more bulky (unless a single front tooth)
  • require more muscle control
  • tend to break more easily
  • need to cover the palate if teeth are missing on both sides – this affects telling temperature and the chewing experience.

Best Situations?

  • Lots of changes are expected to be needed
  • Trauma cases- where teeth have been knocked out
  • Cheapest option needed
  • As a temporary solution before more extensive and expensive treatment
  • Where trouble putting dentures in and taking them out is experienced