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Pros & Cons of Acrylic Dental Partials

A dental partial is an appliance inserted into the mouth that replaces one or more missing teeth and provides support for the cheeks and lips. Partials are different from full dentures, which replace all the teeth on either the upper or lower part of the mouth. The material used is a hard, brittle type of plastic made by mixing acrylic powder with a catalyst, placing it in a denture mold and then heat-curing it to a hard, smooth finish.

  1. The Point of Partials

    • "Flippers," or acrylic partial dentures, are made by casting an acrylic plate on a mold made from an impression of the patient's mouth. The part that fits against the gum and the palate is made of pink acrylic, and teeth are joined to the plate to fit where the patient has gaps between existing teeth. The placement of artificial teeth in the gaps helps to prevent the remaining natural teeth from moving and becoming loose in the gums, and enables the patient to smile and eat as he would with a full mouth of teeth. The flipper is intended to be a temporary solution until the patient is able to have implants or a more permanent partial such as a bridge.

    Advantages of Acrylic Partials

    • One advantage of acrylic is that it is the least expensive denture material available, and it can be used temporarily and then discarded without incurring major cost. Another advantage is that if the patient is having several teeth removed at different times, an acrylic partial can be made to fit after the first extraction and additional teeth can be added later as they are needed.

    Disadvantages of Acrylic Partials

    • An acrylic partial plate often fits poorly, possibly because it may be inserted into the mouth directly after a tooth extraction, when the mouth is swollen. This results in food's getting in between the mouth and the plate, which is unpleasant for the patient. The brittle acrylic breaks easily if dropped, and pressure against one side of an ill-fitting plate can cause the plate to crack in the mouth. Acrylic partials are made fairly thick to be as strong as possible, and this also can cause discomfort for the patient. An acrylic partial fits closely behind the remaining teeth, and, if worn for longer than the intended temporary period, it may press against the back of the teeth and wear the tooth enamel away, possibly causing cavities. Flipper partials are also less stable than partials that use clasps around existing teeth.

    Other Options

    • Partial dentures with a cast metal framework and clasps that fit around existing teeth are stronger than acrylic partials, and because the metal is cast directly onto the mold they usually fit far better than acrylic plates. These partials have less contact with the soft tissue in the mouth, and are therefore less likely to cause pain. Valplast is a flexible, nylon-like material used in place of metal or acrylic in a partial, and has clasps made of the same material. Combination partials use a cast metal framework and invisible Valplast clasps.

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