REVIEW

Flexible Dentures: A Boon in

Compromised Conditions
Mohit Handa1

Quick Response Code

ABSTRACT:

Complete or partial denture fabrication encounters a major

problem when hard and soft tissue undercuts, mandibular tori,
exostosis, titled teeth, interferences and de-arranged occlusion
are seen in the oral cavity and thus complicate the treatment
doi: 10.5866/2015.7.10132
plan. Flexible dentures have emerged as a viable option to treat
1
Senior Lecturer various edentulous conditions where conventional dentures have
Department of Prosthodontics,
Darshan Dental College, Udaipur, Rajasthan some limitations of their rigid base. The present article reviews
India
the evolution, applications, advantages, disadvantages,
indications and contraindications of flexible dentures.

Article Info:
Received: April 11, 2015
Review Completed: May 11, 2015
Accepted: June 10, 2015
Available Online: April, 2015 (www.nacd.in)
© NAD, 2015 - All rights reserved
Key words: Flexible denture, Valplast, Undercut, Acrylic
Email for correspondence: clasps, Thermoplastic resin
dr.mohithanda@gmail.com

INTRODUCTION: was believed to have been constructed in Egypt

about 2500 BC. Skilfully designed dentures were
In the days of rapid growth of living standards
made as early as 700 BC. During medieval times,
and widespread people’s awareness of technological
dentures were seldom considered as a treatment
progress in dentistry, interest increases in
option. They were hand carved and tied in place with
production of different types of removable dentures
silk threads and had to be removed before eating.
made of thermoplastic materials, which the
Dentures were also made up of wood, bone, ivory in
technology is being considered as a step-ahead
ancient times.1-4
solution on the way towards achievement of high-
level aesthetic, comfort and function.1 Alexis Duchateau (1774) was the first to
fabricate porcelain dentures. In 1788 AD, a French
EVOLUTION OF DENTURE BASE:
dentist, Nicholas Dubois de Chemant, made a baked-
Dentistry as a speciality is believed to have porcelain complete denture in a single block. In 1794
begun about 3000 BC. The first dental prosthesis AD, John Greenwood began to swage gold bases for

INDIAN JOURNAL OF DENTAL ADVANCEMENTS

J o u r n a l h o m e p a g e : w w w. n a c d . i n

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Flexible Dentures: A Boon in Compromised Conditions Mohit Handa

dentures. Charles Goodyear, in 1839, discovered the excellent durability. Presently a new line of
process of dry-heat vulcanization of rubber by thermoplastic nylon, Acetal, acrylic, and
heating caoutchouc, sulphur and white lead polycarbonate materials are taking a new surge in
together. In 1851, Goodyear used this technique to dental applications. Various commercially available
produce a highly cross-linked hard rubber named nylon flexible denture base materials are now in use.
Vulcanite after the Roman god. CF Harrington
FLEXIBLE DENTURES:
(1850) introduced the first thermoplastic denture
material the tortoise shell base. Edwin Truman Some of the commercially available products are
(1851) used Gutta percha as a denture base but it Proflex, Valplast,Sunflex
was unstable. Alfred A Blandy (1856) made dentures Proflex:
from a low fusing alloy of silver, bismuth and
Pro-flex is the flexible denture base material
antimony. Dr. Bean (1867) invented the casting
which can be used for Full & Partial Flexible
machine and did the first casting of a denture base
in aluminium. J. Smith Hyatt (1869) introduced Dentures. Pickett Dental Laboratory has been
celluloid that was later used as a denture base offering Pro-flex full and partial flexible dentures
material because of its translucency and pink colour. since 1998. Pro-flex is easy to work with the quality,
Dr. Leo Bakeland (1909) introduced this phenol aesthetics and most importantly, the final results.
formaldehyde resin which was easily available but Pro-flex denture material is indicated in some of the
lacked colour quality. Ni-Cr and Co-Cr were Anatomical considerations-enables the material to
obtained by E. Haynes (1907) but they gained effectively engage tooth and tissue undercuts. Also,
popularity after 1937 because of their low density, Pro-flex is hypoallergenic which is recommended for
low material cost, higher resistance to tarnish and patients with known acrylic or metal sensitivities.
corrosion and high modulus of elasticity. Dr.Walter Aesthetically the material is semi translucent,
Wright (1937) introduced Polymethyl methacrylate allowing the prosthetic to better blend with the
as a denture base material which became the major colour of the natural gum tissue. With Pro-flex
polymer to be used in the coming ten years.1-4 flexible partials, there are no metal clasps. Proflex
full and partial flexible dentures are easily adjusted
Thermoplastic materials were first introduced
by the dentist. This material is tough, durable and
in 1950’s and consisted of different grades of
dense, manufactured with thousands of pounds of
polyamides (nylon plastics). Rapid injection systems
pressure and vacuum formed to fit the model
originated in 1962 introducing Flexite thermoplastic
perfectly. The final layer is a flexible resin composite
material which was a flouropolymer (Teflon like).
that is firm enough to hold teeth under all occlusal
Next introduced nylon based resin was Valplast, a loads, but flexible enough to allow delivery of the
flexible, semi-translucent thermoplastic resin. While dental appliance without adjusting any undercuts.
the material was not strong enough to allow for Simply warm the denture with running water to
conventional tooth borne rest seat, the flexibility bring it up to body temperature before inserting it.
added to patient comfort in wearing the appliances.5 Pro-flex partial and full dentures can be repaired,
Acetal was proposed in 1971 as an unbreakable and the full dentures can be relined here at the
thermoplastic resin material.6 It was during this laboratory with Pro-flex Soft Line material. Pro-flex
period that rapid injection systems developed the flexible dentures are set up with the same quality
first tooth colored clasps with a thermoplastic teeth used in acrylic dentures and cast partials. 7
flouropolymer.7 In 1992 the first pre-formed tooth
colored clasps made of nylon were introduced. Valplast:
Recently the ‘Flexible Resin System’ (FRS system) Valplast is a flexible denture base resin that is
was introduced and is popularly used due to its ideal for partial dentures and unilateral

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Flexible Dentures: A Boon in Compromised Conditions Mohit Handa

restorations. The resin is a biocompatible nylon Accuracy: Injection moulding technique makes
thermoplastic with unique physical and aesthetic the denture more accurate as compared to
properties that provides unlimited design versatility conventional denture
and eliminates the concern about acrylic allergies.
Biocompatibility: The material is free of
The Valplast Flexible Partial allows the restoration
monomer and metal so allergic reactions from these
to adapt to the constant movement and flexibility
materials are avoided in oral cavity.7-9
in your mouth. The flexibility, combined with
strength and light weight, provides total comfort and DISADVANTAGES:7, 8,10
great looks! The preparation is relatively simple. The No stress distribution: The application of
Valplast partial is virtually invisible because there
flexible dentures in Kennedy’s class I and II
are no metal clasps and the material itself blends
situations is not indicated as the area of the flexible
with the tissue in your mouth. While the cost is often
dentures which is analogous to the major connector
higher than a partial made with visible metal clasps.
of a cast partial denture is also flexible. Hence there
The Valplast flexible partial involves only
is actually no way of controlling and understanding
noninvasive procedures. In case of patients who have
the way stresses are transmitted in the flexible
Acrylic Allergies, History of partial frame breakage,
dentures.3
Alternative to implants or fixed products and
Presence of tori valplast flexible dentures can be Discolour: Surface discoloration is seen in the
indicated. 7 denture after about one year

Sunflex: Debonding of teeth: The teeth are not chemically

bonded to the denture base as conventional dentures
Sunflex Partial Dentures are made from a
so for mechanical bonding diatoric holes are the only
strong biocompatible nylon thermoplastic, and are
option to use in polyamide denture bases
unbreakable, yet lightweight and translucent which
allows natural tissue to show through. The sunflex Adequate inter-arch space: Adequate inter-arch
flexible denture base materials are virtually space is required for the success of the denture for
Invisible, Unbreakable, Metal-Free, Lightweight its success
and incredibly Comfortable. The sunflex flexible
Repair and Relining: Another problem faced
denture base materials are exclusively used in
with the material is that no repair or relining is
partially edentulous arches.7
feasible.8
ADVANTAGES: 7-9
Not a definitive prosthesis: Flexible dentures
Esthetics: Metal free clasps and their pink color generally are not used for long-term restorations and
makes the denture look more natural in the oral are intended only for provisional or temporary
cavity. applications.7, 8,10
Flexible: Due to its flexibility, it helps in ease INDICATIONS:9,10
of insertion and removal from mouth in cases of deep
1. As a provisional in lieu of restorative
undercuts or tori.
temporaries or a standard acrylic partial
Preservation of tooth structure: No or little hard denture
or soft tissues are required to modify like
2. Patients allergic to conventional acrylic
preparation of occlusal rest, making path of insertion
by correcting angulated teeth. dentures

Strength: Flexible denture material is so strong 3. Patients with repeated partial dentures
that it can be made very thin which makes it more breakage
comfortable to wear and esthetically pleasing 4. Cosmetic gum veneers

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Flexible Dentures: A Boon in Compromised Conditions Mohit Handa

5. Bruxism appliances case selection and clinical judgment is required to

use flexible dentures in appropriate situations in
6. Implant retained overdentures and complete
order to obtain a successful treatment outcome.
dentures for patients with protuberant bony
structures or large undercuts REFERENCES:
7. Obturators and speech therapy appliances 1. Anusance KJ. Phillips’ science of dental materials. 10th ed.
Philadelphia (PA): WB Saunders; 1996; 237-271.
8. Occlusal splints and sleep apnea appliances
2. William J O’Brien. Dental materials and their selection.
9. Obturators with maxillectomy procedures Third edition, Quintessence Publishing co. 2002.

10. Single complete denture 3. Renu Tandon, Saurabh Gupta, Samarth Kumar Agarwal.
Denture base materials: From past to future. IJDS 2010;
11. In challenging cases including pediatric
2(2):33-39.
patients, cancerous mouths or cleft palate cases
4. Peyton FA, DH Anthony. Evolution of dentures processed
12. Microstomia by different techniques. J Prosthet Dent 1963; 13:269-282.
CONTRAINDICATIONS:9,10 5. Beaumont AJ Jr. An overview of esthetics with removable
partial dentures. Quintessence Int 2002; 33(1):747-755.
1. Deep overbite cases (4mm or more)
6. Naylor WP, Manor RC: Fabrication of a flexible prosthesis
2. Inadequate interocclusal distance (less than
for the edentulous scleroderma patient with microstomia. J
4mm)
Prosthet Dent 1983; 50(4):536-538.
3. Bilateral free end distal extension cases with 7. Sunitha N Shamnur, Jagadeesh KN, Kalavathi SD,
knife edged ridges Kashinath KR. Flexible dentures” - an alternate for rigid
dentures. J Dent Sci Res 1:74-79.
4. Little remaining dentition with minimum
undercut for retention. 8. Thakral GK, Himanshu Aeran, Bhupinder Yadav, Rashmi
Thakral. Flexible Partial Dentures - A hope for the
CONCLUSION: Challenged Mouth. People’s J Sci Res 2012; 5(2):55-59
An effort has been made to focus on 9. Prashanti E, Jain N, Shenoy VK, Reddy JM, Shetty B,
improvements over conventional partials in Saldanha S. Flexible dentures: A flexible option to treat
aesthetics, function, durability of a Partial Denture edentulous patients. J Nep Dent Ass 2010; 11(1):85-87.
and excellent results are seen in regard to esthetics, 10. DiTolla M. Valplast - Flexible, esthetic partial dentures.
function and durability in flexible partial dentures Chairside Perspective Clinical tech and procedures 2004;
when used under right conditions. However careful 5(1):17-27.

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