CLINICAL USE AND SUCCESS OF FLEXIBLE DENTURE MATERIALS: A NARRATIVE REVIEW

Abstract

The current narrative review aims at describing these flexible denture materials used in prosthodontics applications including their historical development, efficiency, and potential development. Unlike the conventional acrylic dentures that have dominated the market of dental prosthetics for decades, thermo-plasticized dentures prepared from the third-generation thermoplastic polymers and nylon-based resins are emphatic innovations. These modern materials have the following advantages – better adaptation to the configuration of the mouth’s tissues and decreased pressure on some areas of the mouth that makes the patient more comfortable and satisfied. Thus, the flexed type of dentures possesses certain disadvantages, including higher costs and adaptation problems; however, ongoing scientific endeavors are to enhance the effectiveness of flexible dentures. An extensive search of the literature was done involved using the information available from journal articles, library of the faculty of dentistry –University of Malaya, with aids from databases like Science Direct and Pub-Med. The new flexible denture base materials and digital dentures fabrication technologies provide huge possibilities for clinical application, and contain numerous advantages compared with the traditional material and techniques. Nonetheless, a deeper reflection on the indications and contraindications of such drugs is needed for the best results from treatment plans.