Metallic and Plastic Denture Base Materials Used For Partially Edentulous Cases

Metallic and plastic denture base materials used for partially
edentulous cases
Denture base: that part of removable partial denture that rests on oral mucosa and to which teeth
are attached.
Types of denture Base material:

(1) metal, and (2) plastic.
1-Metal denture base materials:

- Chrome cobalt
- Stainless steel
- Gold alloy
- Titanium
2- Plastic denture base materials:
-acrylic
-polystyrene
-valplast
Metal denture base materials

The fitting surface of this dental base is entirely metal, prosthetic teeth are attached to the
metal base with a plastic base or by cementation to a retentive post .
Indications
1-Tooth supported partial denture (class III or IV and modification ) where furture bone
resorption is not anticipated.
2-Inadequate inter arch space.
3-High occlusal forces – deep bite.
4- Acrylic allergy.
Metal bases cannot be relined, so they are generally not used for tooth-tissue borne
removable partial dentures, or in areas where teeth have been removed within 12 months
(resorption will still be occurring at an increased rate and relining will be usually be
required).
Advantages
1-Accuracy and Permanence of Form: metal alloys cast accurately and maintain their
accuracy.
2-Intimacy of contact contributes to retention.
3-Thermal conductivity :Temperature changes transmitted through metal to the
underlying tissue help to maintain health of the tissue. Thermal conductivity may be
decreased if plastic is processed onto the metal base.
4-Good soft tissue response due to its high density and
bacteriostatic activity contributed by ionization and oxidation of metal.
5-Weight and bulk : the metal bases can be cast thinner than resin bases while
maintaining adequate strength.
6-Less porous: so they are easily cleaned
7- Resistant to abrasion.
Disadvantages
1. less esthetic.
2-Trimming is difficult and hence overextension must be avoided.
3- Difficult to reline .
4-Difficult to correct underextensions.
5-Cannot be used to support lips, cheek and make up for lost bone.
Plastic denture base:

Acrylic resin bases are the most common types used in removable partial dentures , they have the
plastic material in contact with edentulous ridge. It is used more frequently than the metal base.
This material is not ideal in every respect and it is the combination of virtues rather than one
single desirable property that accounts for its popularity and usage.
They should be routinely used in distal extension cases to allow for relining of the base to
maintain mucosal support .
Indications for acrylic resin denture base:
1-Distal extension base partial denture (tooth- tissue supported edentulous space).
2-Long span edentulous ridges.
3-Contour restoration (extreme loss of residual alveolar bone _fullness of denture base to restore
facial contour )
4-Where esthetic is a primary concern.
ADVANTAGES
1. Ability to reline the base as the supporting tissues change.
2. Easy to fabricate, adjust, finish and polish, and repair.
3. Plastic is more esthetic than metal.
DISADVANTAGES
1. More strength in bulk, so space for artificial teeth may be reduced. Cannot be used when inter-
arch space is less.
2. Less fatigue and abrasion resistant so may break with use.
3. Can distort due to internal strain release.
4-More plaque accumulation.
5-Can irritate soft tissue.
6-Poor thermal conductivity.
Flexible denture material
It was first introduced by the name of valplast and flexiplast to dentistry in 1956.
Advantages
1-Improved esthetic.
2-Used in areas of deep undercuts.
3-Comfort to patient.
4-stress breaking function.
5-Biocompatibility.
6-Accuracy.
Disadvantages:
1-Difficult to reline and rebase.
2-Difficult to repair.
3-Prone to staining.
19.1 Metallic RPDs
Most dentists and prosthodontists favor the use of a metal alloy partial denture framework with acrylic resin (PMMA)
“gumwork” and either resin or porcelain prosthetic teeth (Figure 19.1). The use of a metal framework ensures the rigidity of
the RPD base, reducing the risk of damage from flexure of the denture to the gingival cuff sur- rounding the abutment teeth.
Metal partial denture frameworks are commonly cast from nickel- chromium or cobalt-chromium alloys and, increasingly
rarely, from gold alloys. It is generally accepted that any metal used for a cast RPD framework should have a yield strength
of at least 415 MPa in order to resist permanent deformation when used as clasps (Figure 19.2).
The composition and properties of precious metal and base metal dental casting alloys are discussed in Chapters 15 and 16.
The compositions and properties of some widely used metals for RPDs are summarized in Table 19.1 and Table 19.2. All
base metal alloys contain chromium for corrosion resistance and have superior strengths, elastic moduli, and Vickers
hardness values than gold but, in most cases, are less ductile.
Because of their greater elastic moduli and hardnesses but lower ductilities than hardened gold alloys, base metals are stiffer
and less tolerant of bending than gold. Further, their high hardness values make base metals more difficult to polish than
gold alloys, but, once polished, they are better able to retain their surface finish in clinical service.
The clasps and rests are commonly cast directly with the framework, although clasps that are required to have special
characteristics or are replacements for broken clasps may be soldered to the framework. Silver solders (high melting Ag-
Cu-Zn alloys) are used for this purpose, but care must be taken with exposed solder joints to ensure that they do not corrode
in immersion-type oxygenated denture clean- ers (see Chapter 24). Corrosion is not generally a problem when soldered
joints are “buried” within the acrylic gum work.
Since the framework and clasps are fabricated from nickel-chromium or cobalt-chromium alloys (and, far less commonly,
gold alloys), corrosion rarely presents a problem with RPD frameworks within the oral cavity. There is, however, a risk of
corrosion of the metal framework with immersion in bleaches and hypochlorite-containing cleans- ers (Figure 19.3).
The PMMA gumwork will stain with use, particularly when regu- larly exposed to highly colored beverages such as fruit
juice, tea, and coffee as well as tobacco products. Regular cleansing is necessary to maintain an esthetic appearance as well
as to eliminate mouth odor and remove bacterial accumulation; see Chapter 24.
19.2 Polymeric RPDs
Removable partial dentures fabricated from polymers such as PMMA and nylon are often supplied to patients until a cast
metal RPD from
a dental laboratory is available. Polymeric RPDs may be provided to patients as final or long-term prostheses because of
economic neces- sity but few prosthodontists advocate their long-term use because they tend to be bulky. Further, because
polymeric RPDs tend to flex in use, they may cause damage to the periodontal interface between the soft tissues and
abutment teeth, ultimately causing separation. Another consideration is that resin-based RPDs have low thermal conductivity
and do not permit thermal stimulation of underlying tissues. Polymeric RPDs, however, have appeal to patients because of
cost considerations.
The light-cured resins, based on urethane oligomers, have superior mechanical properties compared with acrylic resins.
Clinical data indi- cate that there are no indications of allergic reactions or tissue irrita- tion, fit is improved, and there is
greater stain resistance compared with conventional acrylic resins.
Many patients dislike the rigidity of acrylic and metallic framework RPDs, and allergic reactions to poly(methyl
methacrylate) are not uncommon. Accordingly, there has been a growing interest in the clinical use of more flexible denture
base materials that are fabricated wholly or in part from other resin systems, e.g. polyamides such as nylon 11,12 (Figure
19.4), as well as the urethane-based systems mentioned previously. These polyamide resin dentures are often referred to as
flexible dentures and they are claimed to have certain advantages, notably the absence of metal clasps, better processing
speed, reduced cost, and greater impact strength than conventional RPD materials. These flexible materials are clearly
advantageous for patients suffering from acrylic allergy and those that object to a metallic taste, whereas claims of
toughness, nonbreakability, flexibility, improved esthetics, and comfort are obviously appealing. Further, flexible denture
base materials are increasingly used for night guards, temporomandibular joint (TMJ) splints, space maintainers, gum
veneers, and stabilization of periodontally compromised teeth.
RPDs (and complete dentures) fabricated with these thermoplastic materials are injection molded and they may be used in
conjunction with metal frameworks. The physical properties of several flexible partial denture materials are summarized in
Table 19.3.
Despite the claimed advantages of flexible RPDs, many patients dislike the apparent lack of denture stability during
mastication and deglutition. Further, because of the lower strength and stiffness of these resins compared with metals, greater
bulk is required in certain areas, typically for the clasps to abutment teeth and in high stress areas. This increased bulk is
disliked by many patients and is not favored by clinicians because of associated problems that can arise with regard to
abutment teeth. Regardless of these considerations, there appears to be a growing market for these flexible denture materials,
not only in developing countries but also within the United States and Europe.
Most prosthodontists and dentists do not recommend the routine, continuous clinical use of flexible dentures because of
problems with the flexibility of the integral clasps. However, these materials are useful in certain clinical situations such as
when there are sharp undercuts on abutment teeth that prevent the use of conventional metal clasps and, particularly, for
patients with acrylic or metal aller- gies. To date, there is limited information in the dental literature on the properties,
clinical characteristics, and long-term success of these materials.
Required properties of denture base materials (in alphabetical order)
Absence of taste and odor

Biocompatibility
Bondable to resins, metal, and porcelain Chemical stability
Color stability
Ease of fabrication and repair
Insolubility in oral fluids
Long shelf life
Low sorption of oral fluids
Moderate cost
Natural appearance
Processing accuracy and dimensional stability Satisfactory thermal properties
Strength and durability
Wear and abrasion resistance

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Metallic and plastic denture base materials used for partially

Types of denture Base material:

1-Metal denture base materials:

Metal denture base materials

Plastic denture base:

19.2 Polymeric RPDs

Required properties of denture base materials (in alphabetical order)

Absence of taste and odor

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