Acrylate is a polymeric material used in dentistry for various applications such as the manufacture of dentures, fillings and dental crowns.
This material was first introduced into dentistry in the 1940s and has since been widely used due to its excellent properties. Acrylate can be used in liquid and powder form, which mix to form a solid and durable material.
Physical and chemical properties of acrylate:
Acrylate is a thermoplastic polymeric material that can be shaped and sculpted into various forms. It has a relatively high density and high resistance to pressure and tension. This material also has a high chemical resistance, which allows it to withstand the action of acids and alkalis.
Acrylate is also an inert material, which means it does not react with other substances. This makes it ideal for use in dentistry, as it does not cause irritation or adverse reactions inside patients’ mouths.
Use of acrylate in dentistry:
Acrylate is used in dentistry for various applications, including the manufacture of dentures, fillings and dental crowns.
Dentures: Dentures are dental devices used to replace missing teeth. Acrylate is used to make dentures because it is a durable, easy to shape and easy to clean material. Dentures made from acrylate can be adjusted over time to perfectly fit the shape and size of the patient’s mouth.
Fillings:
Fillings are materials used to fill cavities in teeth. Acrylic is one of the materials used to make fillings because it can be shaped and sculpted into various shapes and sizes, and its color can be matched to the color of natural teeth. Acrylate fillings are durable and can withstand the pressure and tension exerted during chewing.
Dental crowns:
Dental crowns are dentures used to cover damaged or partially destroyed teeth. Acrylic is one of the materials used to make dental crowns because it can be shaped and sculpted into various shapes and sizes. Dental crowns made of acrylate are durable and can be matched to the color of natural teeth to achieve an optimal aesthetic appearance.
Dentistry comes with treatment options for situations that require edentulous dentures.
Teeth, as a result of carious processes or non-carious lesions, undergo processes of loss of the hard substance from which they are made.
If the lesions lacking substance (cuneiform lesions) are not filled, the destructive processes will continue, altering the structure but also the functionality of the dental units.
Types of destructive processes:
Caries lesions – the food consumed contains either acids, which erode the tooth surfaces, or carbohydrates, which are the nutritional substrate for the bacteria residing in the oral cavity. It is not possible to completely remove bacteria from the oral cavity, no matter how well it is sanitized. Resident bacteria develop their pathogenic potential in relation to the level of oral hygiene. Under the right conditions, they cause demineralization of enamel, weakening of enamel structure and penetration of dentine. Once at the dentinal level, carious processes advance at an even faster rate due to the less dense structure of this layer.
Trauma – fractures fragment the tooth structure, leading to acute and massive loss of tooth substance. The degree of damage depends largely on the direction of the fracture line. Thus, horizontal and oblique, non-penetrating fractures, i.e. those that do not involve the root, are the mildest and the tooth can be preserved. However, fractures that also extend to the root are almost impossible to treat. In most cases, they result in the extraction of the tooth.
Non-carious lesions – these include abrasion, erosion and abfraction. The first of these is loss of tooth substance due to mechanical causes, erosion is due to chemical agents and abfraction is due to ocular malfunction.
Use
Replacement of teeth, soft tissues or optimization of the function of the dento-maxillary apparatus can be carried out using various materials, one of which is acrylate, used in a variety of situations.
These include:
The basis of removable full or partial dentures – extensive edentulousness, comprising several teeth, is often accompanied by ridge resorption, especially if no intervention is performed immediately after tooth loss. Thus, the framework to be applied to the edentulous ridges and hard palate will be made of pink acrylic.
Artificial teeth for removable dentures – often the teeth that will be applied over the denture saddles are made of acrylate, mainly because of the low-cost price, the wide variety of shapes and adjustment possibilities and the solid chemical bond with the base.
Orthodontic appliances – functional, movable appliances used in the treatment of dental anomalies in children are made of acrylate. To make them more attractive and to encourage the child to wear them, technicians give functional appliances different colors.
Surgical prostheses – following excisions of tumors that result in large losses of substance, these defects will be covered by acrylic prostheses, designed to restore the defects to restore the patient’s tissue integrity.
Dentures – used for patients suffering from bruxism or other dental malfunctions.
Temporary prosthetic work – temporary until the final work is completed. Their purpose is to partially restore lost function following edentulousness.
Conclusions:
Acrylate is a high-performance polymeric material with excellent physical and chemical properties, making it ideal for use in dentistry. This material can be used in a wide range of applications such as the manufacture of dentures, fillings and dental crowns.
Due to its durable properties and high strength, acrylate can be used to create dental devices that last for many years, allowing patients to enjoy optimal oral health and functionality.
Overall, acrylate is an important polymer material for dentistry and continues to be widely used in the field due to its excellent properties.
However, before using this material, it is important that adequate research and testing is carried out to ensure the safety and efficacy of its use in dental treatments.
