thErMOplastIc rEsINs fOr flExIblE fraMEwOrk rEMOvablE partIal DENtUrEs

Abstract

Received for publication: Mar. 14, 2005. Revised: Sep. 30, 2005. rEZUMat Department of ProsthesesTechnology and Dental Materials, Faculty of Dental Medicine, Victor Babes University of Medicine and Pharmacy Timisoara Correspondence to: Meda Negrutiu, PhD, DMD, Department of Prostheses Technology and Dental Materials, Faculty of Dental Medicine, 2 Eftimie Murgu Square, Timisoara, Tel. [phone] Email: [e-mail] INtrODUctION If you are missing only a few teeth scattered over either arch (upper or lower teeth), or even if you have a minimum of two teeth on both sides of the arch, then you can most inexpensively replace the missing teeth with a removable partial denture (RPD). There are several types of RPD’s.1 All of them use standard thErMOplastIc rEsINs fOr flExIblE fraMEwOrk rEMOvablE partIal DENtUrEs Meda Negrutiu, cosmin Sinescu, Mihai Romanu, Daniela Pop, Sorin lakatos The therapeutic use of thermoplastic materials has increased drastically in the late decade. This new procedure, during which a fully polymerized basic material is softened by heat (without chemical changes) and injected afterwards, has opened up a new chapter in making dentures. The excellent tissue-friendly and mechanical characteristics of these basic materials can only be made to last by an exactly executed and reproducible technology. Current dental applications of thermoplastic materials include: preformed partial denture clasp, flexible tooth born partial denture framework, single cast partial dentures, temporary crowns and bridges, provisional crowns and bridges, occlusal appliances, implant abutments, orthodontic and sleep apnea appliances, many of which have been described previously. However, with the development of new elastomers and copolymer alloys, there are certain to be many new clinical applications for thermoplastic resins in dentistry.