Denture base material

Nylon bases are a widely used alternative to PMMA for removable partial dentures. Their flexibility lets the border seal around the denture, which can help retention.

The review found better retention with PMMA than with flexible dentures. PMMA is therefore the comparison material when the question is how securely the partial denture stays in place.

A removable partial denture can have a plastic or metal plate and may use metal clips to help it stay in place. Those construction choices distinguish partial denture designs.

A denture that clicks, slips, causes pain, or becomes worn or damaged needs attention. Very red or bleeding gums and bad breath can also accompany gum disease, fungal infection, or tooth decay.

Compared with PMMA, flexible dentures had lower measured hardness and impact strength in the review. The review also found lower colour stability and lower polymerisation shrinkage for flexible dentures, while flexural-strength findings were unsettled.

Bridges and dental implants are other ways to replace missing teeth. A bridge is fixed to other teeth, while an implant is fixed to the jawbone and can support a crown or some types of denture.

The useful comparison is specific: nylon is flexible and can seal at the border, whereas PMMA retained better in the reviewed evidence. Material properties, indication, advantages and disadvantages all matter for a removable partial denture.