A denture base is a material that covers the gums and provides support for the dentures.

There are three types of materials used to form this base: acrylic resin, non-allergic resin and zinc phosphate. The supporting tissue for the residual ridge are treated so they become less displaced, since the tissues covering the residual ridge can wear out over time. Once the base is installed, it won't wear out.

Acrylic resin

Acrylic resin is considered one of the best acrylic denture base materials of denture base available today. This type of material is very comfortable and easy to use under the guidance of an experienced dental technician. The disadvantage with this material is that some patients may show allergic reactions; therefore, these patients should consider using another alternative such as zinc phosphate or non-allergic resin.

Zinc phosphate

Zinc phosphate quickly became known as an excellent alternative to acrylic resin. This material was labelled as the "gold standard" of denture bases because it is strong and extremely durable; however, this material produced an undesirable taste and odour which caused some denture wearers to reject the use of this type of denture base. Today, non-allergic resin is becoming very popular among dental laboratories and especially with patients who are known to have allergies to other types of materials. This material is made out of acrylic resin and an additional polymer that provides exceptional aesthetic qualities that are difficult to find with other base materials in the complete dentures.

What is the function of a denture base?

The denture base serves as a major connector for the complete or partial dental prosthesis. This base holds and provides support for every tooth, oral tissue, hard tissue and gingiva (gums). It is important to have good dimensional stability and a reliable denture base, otherwise, it would be difficult for patients to chew and speak clearly. Further, adverse reactions caused by ill-fitting new dentures could also cause bone loss because the patient is continuously wearing a prosthetic that does not fit properly.

How is a denture base made?

There are two methods used to manufacture a denture base with the help of denture base materials: "pressing", which is the process of using heat and pressure to produce the desired shape, and "casting", which involves pouring liquid material into a mould. The most common method for making a denture base acrylic with perfect denture base materials is pressing. This method uses heat, pressure and vacuum to press liquid acrylic resin or zinc phosphate powder into either blocks or trays. After the heat curing materials is pressed, it is cooled until it solidifies. The next step in this process is to polish the surfaces so they provide adequate contact with the gums. Finally, thin strips are attached for stabilization purposes during sintering (firing). After all this processing has taken place, an experienced dental technician will check the quality of denture base materials and thickness of the finished product to ensure it offers stability, adequate tissue fit, and solid occlusal contacts. Acrylic resin base tends to shrink more than zinc phosphate due to its higher heat distortion temperature; therefore, acrylic bases and denture base polymer is used in circumstances of any type of allergy also the denture base materials may require more finishing than zinc phosphate.

What are the advantages of using a denture base?

Acrylic dentures have less problems related to instability, and also soft tissues helps to perfect the border seals and plaque retention, also denture base resin might improve the mechanical properties of the resin food trapping and bone loss. This type of denture base material is also considered very comfortable with because it is inert (does not react with other materials or tissues). Furthermore, this type of material has no taste which makes it ideal for removable partial prosthodontics. However, this type of product does have several disadvantages including being expensive. Zinc-phosphate denture base resins are inexpensive, strong, and durable however there may be some aesthetic drawbacks because this type of material is opaque. Non-allergic resin offers superior aesthetics, strength, and durability. It is the most expensive denture base resin material among products in the market.

What are the disadvantages of using a denture base?

There are several disadvantages associated with using acrylic or zinc phosphate as the material for making bases with acrylic denture base material.

  • Allergic reaction to materials used in upper denture acrylic. It may cause mucosal irritation.

  • Poor taste caused by zinc phosphate (some patients might find these products unacceptable because of their unpleasant taste).

  • Bone loss may occur if the patient has poorly fitting dentures that can break down tooth structure.

It is important for patients to have a thorough dental exam, discuss their expectations of wearing a removable prosthesis and receive treatment planning prior to receiving a full or partial denture. Patients interested in learning more about denture bases should speak with their dentist or general practitioner for an outline of the costs. When appropriate, these specialists might recommend seeing an oral surgeon or periodontist.

What is a trial denture base?

A trial denture base is a set of full or partial dentures made of denture base materials for the patient to wear at home. A patient will wear these appliances for several weeks before the final set of dentures is created. A trial base provides improved comfort by enabling patients to get used to wearing their new teeth, made up of wax denture base material improving speech and appearance. These appliances also allow the dentist to monitor how the patient's gums are reacting. The clinician can provide adjustments or dimensional changes according to the needs of the patient which allows him/her to achieve optimal function while chewing.

What is an impression?

An impression is a record of your mouth that is made for cosmetic or restorative purposes. The type of impression made for a complete denture surface is called a denture impression. Prior to taking an impression, the patient will rinse his/her mouth with an antiseptic solution and remove any debris from the area. The dentist will insert the filling material(heat cured or cold cured) into the mouth which rests according to your teeth and surrounding structures. A clinician will place a thin sheet of plastic over this moulding material to create a negative impression of your mouth. This negative impression provides a visual reference for creating dentures or other appliances like retainers or bridges.

What are dental implants?

Dental implants act as tooth root substitutes; therefore, they restore chewing function, stimulating jawbone growth by providing resistance against forces during mastication.

As a result, implants are capable of supporting an extensive range of designs, unlike porcelain teeth that can loosen over time. Similarly, the distal extension base can receive displacement over time between every natural tooth. For this, the abutment teeth provide support to the distal extension base.

Patients with dental implants are less likely to experience bone loss because no tooth is removed from the jawbone which stimulates an increase in bone mass.

What is a temporary denture?

Temporary prostheses leave the remaining natural teeth to allow healing of the jawbone in the patient's mouth and surrounding tissues following extractions or dental surgery. People usually wait 30 days following successful treatment before replacing missing teeth with permanent prosthetic replacements. Temporary dentures or partial denture teeth are usually less expensive than permanent versions because they are smaller and lighter with less denture materials. They can be maintained easily by cleaning with denture cleaners. Temporary dentures do not require as much material for support, and these artificial teeth are easier to wear. Additionally, the major component of supporting structures of temporary prostheses (i.e., adhesives or wax, suction, oral mucosa, soft lining materials) allows patients to eat more comfortably while healing occurs with help of denture teeth.

What is the difference between full and partial dentures?

The two main forms of removable dental appliances are known as full and partial dentures. Full dentures (or complete dentures) replace all the upper or lower teeth whereas in removable partial prosthetic treatment, they either replace a few missing teeth or address an area where teeth remain in place but need replacing (such as tooth loss resulting from periodontal disease). For more information on the costs of dental work, take a look at the Australian Government's Health Direct website.