What Are Acrylic Dentures?

Acrylic dentures are replacement teeth and gums that are made out of acrylic, a versatile and easily moldable plastic. Dentures made of acrylic are useful when people have lost most or all of their teeth. While so-called partials are made for people who have lost only some of their teeth, dentures are for people who have lost all of their teeth to decay or accident or had them pulled as a result of disease. Dentures also can be made out of materials other than acrylic, including chrome and titanium.

When dentures are made, they must be custom fitted to the mouth of the dental patient. This can be done by taking precise measurements of the patient’s mouth or by creating an exact mold of the mouth. After being created, the dentures must be tried on and fitted to the mouth of the patient. They may be attached by metal implements to existing teeth or by suctioning to the gums if there are no remaining teeth. If dentures are found not to be a correct fit or intensely uncomfortable, they must be adjusted until they fit properly.

The positive aspects of acrylic dentures are that they are more easily affordable than other types of replacement teeth and gums and are made out of a plastic that is easy to mold, change and modify as needed. Other types of dentures are often extremely expensive and hard to obtain for people with limited finances, so acrylic dentures can be an affordable option. Acrylic is a plastic that is useful in many different fields, including dentistry. If these dentures do not fit a patient properly, they can be adjusted so they are comfortable and fit well.

There also are several negative aspects of acrylic dentures. Some dentures can be ill-fitting and may not look as natural as other, more expensive types of dentures. Acrylic dentures, because of the material from which they are made, also may not last as long or be as durable as other types of dentures. They tend to change shape over time, which means they may require more adjustments to remain comfortable than titanium or chrome dentures would, and these adjustments can be costly and time-consuming. These dentures also can fit loosely, making them awkward and uncomfortable, especially on the bottom jaw or when there are no teeth to which to attach them.