Acrylic

Question 1

What are the advantages of acrylic dentures?

Answer 1

• Cheaper (don’t need chrome framework)
• Easier to add teeth to (clasps are embedded into acrylic, so can move them around and add teeth as you please by putting on extra acrylic)
• Better wetting (saliva clings better to fitting surface/gum, giving better adhesive properties if require a larger denture with greater surface area)
• Also lighter than metal if need to cover greater surface (e.g. more teeth missing in PU)
• Requires fewer appointments
• Clasps can be manually adjusted

Question 2

What are the disadvantages of acrylic dentures?

Answer 2

• Not as strong, thus requires greater bulk (at least 2-3mm thick)
• Clasps may not last as long
• Harbours more plaque (porous)
• No rests, thus less support
• Clasps are manually bent not cast, thus not as accurate

Question 3

What clasps are used for acrylic? What undercuts are required?

Answer 3

Stainless steel 0.75mm