Temporary dentures, often referred to as immediate or interim dentures, are prosthetic devices designed for short-term use. These appliances are placed immediately following the removal of natural teeth or during a prolonged healing period. They serve as a temporary placeholder, maintaining the space and appearance of missing teeth while the underlying bone and gum tissues stabilize. This immediate placement helps the patient transition to a toothless state, offering instant restoration of aesthetics and function until a permanent denture can be fabricated.
Primary Materials for Temporary Dentures
The primary material for temporary dentures is acrylic resin, a plastic polymer known scientifically as Polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA). This material forms both the pink-colored gum base that rests on the soft tissues and the white, artificial teeth set into the base. The base component is tinted to closely mimic the natural appearance of the patient’s gums. The artificial teeth are also made from acrylic, although they may be a slightly different composition to achieve the necessary shade and translucency of natural tooth enamel.
In contrast to the materials used in final restorations, the acrylic resin utilized for temporary dentures is often a lower-density or less extensively cured version. This material choice helps keep the cost of the interim appliance lower, reflecting its short-term function. For partial temporary dentures, where some natural teeth remain, the acrylic base may incorporate small metal wire clasps to help secure the appliance to the existing teeth.
Why These Materials Are Easily Adaptable
Acrylic resin is selected for its exceptional ease of manipulation by dental professionals. This material allows for quick, chairside adjustments, which is a necessary feature for an appliance worn during the mouth’s healing phase. As the bone and gum tissues remodel and shrink after tooth extractions, the fit of the denture will become loose over a period of weeks or months.
The acrylic base can be easily reshaped or supplemented with additional cold-cure acrylic material to improve the fit. This process, known as relining, is performed quickly in the dental office to conform the denture to the changing oral contours. The material’s ability to accept these rapid additions and adjustments makes it uniquely suited for the immediate denture phase.
Distinctions from Permanent Denture Fabrication
The fabrication process for temporary dentures is less complex and precise than the method used for permanent appliances. Temporary dentures are constructed using a simpler, faster, cold-cure polymerization process for the acrylic resin. This technique does not require the same intensive heat and pressure treatment as the heat-cured process used for final dentures, which results in a less dense and less durable material.
Permanent dentures are made from higher-quality, heat-cured acrylics or specialized polymers designed for greater strength, dimensional stability, and longevity. The construction of a final denture involves a more precise fit, sometimes incorporating thin, rigid metal frameworks, such as chrome cobalt, within the base for reinforcement. While temporary appliances are meant to last a few months, permanent dentures are engineered to withstand the forces of chewing for many years.