A denture base is, as the name suggests, the bottom part and foundation of a denture — the part that holds artificial teeth in place. It is the part of that covers the mouth’s soft tissue and enables chewing. Rather than protect the soft tissue, denture bases support removable partial dentures (RPDs) and help hold braces in place.
Although denture bases primarily serve to chew, many people in Tauranga have had dentures picked for their aesthetic purpose. This is more so the case when the dentists use tinting techniques and re-contouring. Still, the denture base also serves to stimulate tissues.
What are the characteristics of an ideal denture base material? Ideally, the material used should meet characteristics such as chemical inertness, stability, and having no taste. It not only has to have no taste, but it also needs not to pick up flavours from oral fluids.
Additionally, the material should adapt to the mouth while at the same time being cleanable with dental equipment. It must also have enough strength to resist stress and must not soften or disfigure because of exposure to hot water or any other solutions. It helps if it is affordable.
However, no material can meet all these requirements, but those that come close are:
1. Metal denture bases
In this case, the metal touches the edentulous ridge. Cementation will attach prosthetic teeth. This metal support enjoys a high enough thermal conductivity and rigidity, making it stable and resistant to abrasion.
It is not very porous, so it is easy to clean. The downside is that metal might not look as pleasing.
2. Plastic denture bases
Plastic is more popular than metal as a denture base. It not only looks better, but it is also easy to fabricate and finish as well as easy to repair. However, plastic is quickly fractured and less rigid, unless more bulk is applied.
Plastic denture bases are the most preferred type for a reason. They will not only look nice; they are also easier to fix when problems arise. Besides, there are high-impact innovations, such as using Lucitone 199, which reduce the chances of fault. Lastly, always have your dentures fixed by a qualified dentist.