Acrylic (PMMA) in Dentures and Temporary Teeth

• Complete dentures. A complete denture replaces all the teeth in a jaw. Its base and teeth are usually acrylic; a metal base is used rarely¹.
• Partial dentures. A partial denture replaces some of the teeth. It can be made of a plastic (acrylic) or metal plate², and either type may have metal clasps that hold on to your own teeth. The metal type is covered with gum-coloured acrylic and carries acrylic teeth.
• Immediate dentures. These are fitted on the day teeth are taken out. As the gum and bone heal, they often need adjusting or replacing within about a year⁴.
• Dentures held by implants. A removable denture can clip onto implants. A leaflet from a hospital in Leicester, also in the UK, notes that the clips often need reactivation or replacement at least once a year⁵.
• Temporary crowns and bridges. While a laboratory makes a crown or bridge, a temporary one protects the prepared tooth. A 2022 review divides these provisional materials into two broad types⁶: resins based on PMMA or a related acrylic, and bis-acrylic resins.
• Fixed full-arch bridges on implants. A fixed bridge on several implants, such as All-on-4, can have acrylic teeth and gum on a metal framework. A 2019 review of these bridges also included bridges made of PMMA alone⁷, and ceramic ones. Ask what your provisional and final bridges are made of.

Some clear orthodontic retainers are also made from an acrylic-based material⁸; they are not covered here. Cements, impression materials and other materials are described under other dental materials.

Heat-cured, self-curing and light-cured acrylic

Acrylic is made when small molecules (monomers), mainly methyl methacrylate, join into a solid plastic (a polymer). The main variants differ in how that reaction is started, and products also differ in their exact ingredients. A 2012 review grouped denture base and reline acrylics into heat-cured, microwave-cured, self-curing, light-cured and hard chairside reline resins⁹. Heat-cured acrylic is set with heat, usually in a dental laboratory. Self-curing (cold-cure) acrylic sets without heat. Hard chairside reline resins are used by the dentist to refit a denture in the mouth.

Milled and 3D-printed dentures

A denture can also be designed on a computer and then milled from a block of resin or 3D-printed. Complete dentures can be made either way¹⁰.

• In the laboratory. A 2025 review of 20 laboratory studies compared printed denture base resins with heat-cured PMMA. It found no statistically significant differences in water uptake, solubility or surface roughness³. Heat-cured PMMA was significantly stiffer. The authors call for standard printing materials and methods.
• In patients. A 2026 review of 12 studies compared printed complete dentures with conventional and milled ones. Conventional dentures held in place better than printed ones¹⁰. On its other outcomes, it found no significant difference between printed dentures and conventional or milled ones¹⁰. These outcomes included patient satisfaction, quality of life, chewing force and clinicians' satisfaction. This does not show that they perform equally well.

How a denture is made does not by itself tell you how well yours will fit. Ask how yours will be made, and why.

Flexible and other metal-free partial dentures

Partial dentures can also be made from flexible nylon (polyamide) or from acetal resin. A 2021 narrative review calls these earlier alternatives to conventional acrylic resins¹¹. It also describes a newer group of high-performance polymers. For those, it says research on oral health, lifespan, patient satisfaction and quality of life is still needed. A 2015 review of nylon denture bases noted very limited knowledge about their clinical performance¹², and recommended careful follow-up of people who wear them.

Acrylic or metal partial denture

A metal-based partial denture is thinner and stronger² than an all-acrylic one, but it is not suitable in all cases. The alloys used are explained on our metal-ceramic restorations and dental alloys page.

How the material is chosen

The choice depends on the type of denture or restoration and on how many teeth remain and how healthy they are. How long it needs to last, and any allergy you have, matter too. Ask which material and product are proposed for you, and why.

The steps below are for a conventional complete denture, as the Leeds leaflet on complete dentures describes them¹. A stage is sometimes repeated, and a second try-in is often needed. Partial dentures go through similar steps. Your dentist sets the number of appointments, and the time between them, after examining you. Our dentures page explains how the appointments fit a trip.

A temporary crown or bridge can be made directly in the mouth from a resin, or milled or 3D-printed⁶. It stays in place until the final crown or bridge is fitted. If it comes off, see a dentist without waiting, to protect the tooth.

The figures below come from published studies, not from our own records.

Benefits

• No surgery for the denture itself. Making and fitting a conventional denture involves no surgery, although any teeth that have to come out are taken out first. A clasp-retained partial denture usually needs little or no reshaping of the supporting teeth.
• Support for the face. A complete denture recreates support for your lips and cheeks¹ that is lost when teeth are removed. A small study used 3D face scans of 30 people before and after new complete dentures. It found measurable changes in the soft tissues of the face¹³, such as the lips; it had no comparison group.
• Adjustable and repairable. A dentist can trim acrylic where it rubs and reline it when the gums change. If a denture breaks, bring any broken parts⁴ to the dentist, who can check whether it can be repaired.

Limitations

• Loosening over time. After teeth are taken out, the jawbone shrinks markedly, especially in the first 3-12 months, and then continues more slowly for life¹⁴. A 2011 US guideline on caring for complete dentures describes this. So even a well-fitting denture can become loose.
• Wear, staining and breakage. Acrylic wears and can stain (see below). A denture can crack if it is dropped or as it wears. In a large review of dentures held by mini implants, 69 of the 76 dentures counted as failures failed because the denture broke¹⁵. The review included 1,026 such dentures¹⁵, followed for a little over two years on average, so this is not a breakage rate for ordinary dentures.
• Inflammation under the denture. See "Sensitivity and biocompatibility considerations" below.
• Acrylic on full-arch implant bridges. A 2019 review of 41 studies looked at fixed full-arch bridges on implants. The reported chipping rates were 22 per cent for metal-resin bridges⁷, 8 per cent for metal-ceramic and 15 per cent for all-ceramic ones. Its abstract does not say whether these rates count bridges or patients, or over what period. How many bridges stayed in use did not differ significantly by material. But because chipping was common, the authors note that survival alone does not seem a reliable way to judge these bridges⁷. They advise caution with metal-resin bridges.
• Wear on fixed bridges. A 2026 review of 10 clinical studies found wear-related complications reported more often with metal-acrylic full-arch bridges¹⁶. These included severe wear, chipping, loose screws and framework fractures. Teeth grinding and not wearing a protective night guard were often linked with more complications.
• Temporaries are temporary. A temporary crown or bridge protects the tooth for a limited time and can come off or break.

Wear

Acrylic teeth and bases wear with use, and the gums under a denture change shape. The Leicester leaflet says dentures will need replacing every few years due to normal wear⁵, or because their appearance has deteriorated. The American College of Prosthodontists, a US professional body, says there is no evidence¹⁷ that sets how often dentures should be relined or replaced. It recommends that a denture in use for more than five years be assessed for replacement. So the decision is made at an examination, not by the calendar.

Staining

• Abrasive cleaning scratches acrylic, and scratches allow bacteria to build up and increase staining⁵.
• Hot water can make a denture change shape and discolour¹.
• Very hot water or strong bleach can make the plastic whiten² and metal parts tarnish.
• Denture cleaning tablets or solutions help reduce bacteria and stain. Using too much, though, can cause discoloration and tarnishing of any metal parts⁵.

Show your dentist any stain that normal cleaning does not remove. Do not scrape or bleach the denture yourself.

Relining, repairs and replacement

When a denture becomes loose, new material can be added to its fitting surface so that it fits the gum again. This is called relining. A cracked denture, or a tooth that has come off, is repaired by a dentist; sometimes the denture needs replacing. Do not adjust or repair your denture yourself², and do not glue it. Take any broken pieces with you.

Emergencies. Do not wait for a dental appointment or for the clinic's reply. Get emergency care if:

• You think you have swallowed or breathed in the denture or a piece of it
• You have difficulty breathing or swallowing

Go to the nearest emergency department or call the emergency number where you are.

This advice is for dentures you take out; for temporary crowns and bridges, see the end of this section. A fixed bridge on implants stays in the mouth and is cleaned there; our full-mouth dental implants page explains its daily care.

Every day

• Clean the denture outside your mouth every day with a soft brush and a non-abrasive denture cleaner or mild soap. In a review of 44 clinical studies, brushing combined with a chemical cleaner was significantly more effective than using one method alone¹⁸.
• Advice on toothpaste differs. The UK's National Health Service (NHS) advises not cleaning dentures with toothpaste, because it could damage them⁴. The American Dental Association says dentures can be cleaned with toothpaste or mild soap¹⁹. Ask your dentist before using toothpaste on your denture.
• Clean over a towel or a basin of water, so that if the dentures are dropped they should not break⁵.
• Soak the denture in a cleaning tablet or solution as the product instructions say, and rinse it well. Cleaners are used only while the denture is out of the mouth¹⁹.
• Do not put the denture in hot or boiling water. Do not use household bleach or household cleaning powders. If you use a denture cleaner that contains sodium hypochlorite, do not leave the denture in it for longer than 10 minutes¹⁴. If your denture has metal parts or a soft lining, ask your dentist before using a chemical cleaner.
• Clean your gums, tongue and remaining teeth every day as well. Brush your remaining teeth twice a day with a fluoride toothpaste and clean between them.

An older Cochrane review (2009), limited to trials in acrylic complete dentures, found a lack of evidence²⁰ comparing how well the different methods work.

At night

Unless your dentist advises otherwise, take the denture out at night. The NHS says that if dentures are worn overnight, trapped food increases the risk of gum infections and tooth decay⁴. It also warns that you could choke on dentures left in while you sleep⁴. Clean the denture before storing it: this reduces Candida (a yeast) settling on the denture²¹.

Advice on storage differs. The hospital leaflets from Leicester and Leeds advise storing it in plain cold water⁵ and not letting it dry out². The 2011 US guideline recommends storing it in water to stop it losing its shape¹⁴. A review, on the other hand, reports that storing it in water alone can increase yeast growth²¹. Ask your dentist which suits your denture.

Adhesive and check-ups

If you use denture adhesive, use the smallest amount that holds and clean it off every day. As a precaution, the same guideline recommends avoiding adhesives that contain zinc¹⁴. If you get numbness or tingling in your hands or feet while using adhesive, stop using the adhesive and see a doctor²². If you need more and more adhesive, have the fit of the denture checked. Our dentures page explains adhesives in more detail.

The same guideline recommends that complete denture wearers have a check-up once a year¹⁴. The Leicester leaflet adds that this matters even if you do not have teeth⁵. Take the denture with you.

Temporary crowns and bridges

While a temporary crown or bridge is in place, avoid biting hard or sticky food with it. Slide dental floss out sideways rather than pulling it back up between the teeth. Ask how long it is meant to stay. If it loosens, breaks or feels high when you bite, see a dentist without waiting.

Inflammation under the denture

Inflammation of the tissue under a denture is called denture stomatitis. A 2024 review of 28 studies describes it as very common²³ in people who wear complete or partial dentures. It is often linked with a poorly fitting denture or a yeast infection (Candida). The review found the main causes to be the type of denture, wearing it continuously, and a Candida film that poor hygiene encourages²³. To reduce it, the 2011 US guideline recommends taking the denture out at night unless your dentist advises otherwise¹⁴. The Leeds leaflet on complete dentures also warns that wearing dentures at night for long periods can lead to fungal infections¹ under them.

Leftover monomer and allergy

If the reaction that sets acrylic is incomplete, some monomer stays in the material. A 2026 narrative review says such residual monomers can trigger delayed allergic reactions²⁴, in patients and in dental staff. It adds that people already sensitised by nail products or industrial adhesives²⁴ may react to dental materials. For 3D-printed resins, it notes that the quality of curing varies with the processing after printing.

The same 2012 review, of laboratory cell studies, found some evidence that heat-cured acrylics were less toxic to cells⁹. The comparison was with self-curing denture base acrylics and with reline resins set by light, or by light and chemically together. Because the studies varied so much, it could not reach a definitive conclusion.

How often does this happen? In 2015 the European Commission's Scientific Committee on Emerging and Newly Identified Health Risks (SCENIHR) published an opinion on filling materials. It put local reactions in the mouth to dental materials in general, including allergy, at an incidence below 0.3 per cent²⁵, usually readily managed. It gave no figure for acrylic dentures alone, and this page cites none.

What you can do

• Tell your dentist about any reaction you have had to acrylic nails, adhesives, dental materials or metals.
• If your mouth is sore, red or swollen under a denture, see a dentist. The cause may be the fit, wearing the denture at night, a yeast infection or an allergy.
• Show a dentist any sore that does not heal, whether or not the denture has been adjusted. Do the same if you notice a new patch or swelling in your mouth.
• If an allergy to acrylic is confirmed, ask for the names and ingredients of the products proposed, and which other materials could be used. A 2015 review considered nylon bases justified for some people, including people with an allergy to other denture base materials¹².

Other denture materials

• A metal-based partial denture. A cobalt-chromium plate with acrylic teeth and gum. It is thinner and stronger than an all-acrylic one, but not suitable for everyone (see "Material variants and selection" above).
• Flexible or other metal-free partial dentures. Nylon, acetal or newer polymers. For nylon and the newer polymers, the reviews above found clinical evidence limited.

Other ways to replace teeth

• An implant-retained denture. The denture clips onto implants and can still be taken out. In randomised trials in people with no lower teeth, a lower denture attached to implants was on average found more satisfactory than a conventional denture²⁶. The size of the benefit is uncertain. It needs surgery and more maintenance.
• A fixed bridge on implants. All the teeth in a jaw can be replaced with a fixed bridge on implants. It can be acrylic on a metal framework, or ceramic; see the figures under "Benefits and limitations" above. Our full-mouth dental implants page explains this treatment.
• A bridge or an implant for one or a few teeth. A conventional bridge is fixed to the neighbouring teeth, which are trimmed and crowned. In a resin-bonded bridge, the artificial tooth is held by a thin wing bonded to the inner surface of a neighbouring tooth. An implant replaces the root of a missing tooth; our dental implants page explains it.
• Leaving a gap. For some back-tooth gaps, leaving the gap is also an option, monitored at your check-ups.

Temporary crowns and bridges

Provisional resins can be made directly in the mouth or conventionally, milled or 3D-printed. A 2022 review of laboratory tests compared printed provisional resins with milled and conventionally made ones. It concluded that, overall, printed resins were better in mechanical tests but worse in physical ones⁶. It also concluded that they can be used as an alternative for longer-term temporaries. Because it looked only at laboratory tests, it does not show how long printed temporaries last in the mouth.

Our dental materials page compares the main families of materials.

Before treatment, ask in writing:

• the base and tooth materials, such as heat-cured acrylic, printed resin, nylon or a cobalt-chromium plate;
• the product names and manufacturers;
• whether the denture is made conventionally, milled or printed, and by which laboratory;
• how many fitting and adjustment appointments are planned before you go home;
• what the written terms say if the denture cracks, loses a tooth or stops fitting after you are home;
• what the aftercare plan says, and whom to contact if there is a problem later;
• who pays for a repair, reline or remake, and for any extra trip.

Take home for your own dentist a written record of the denture type, the materials and product names, the shade and the laboratory. For an implant-retained denture or bridge, add the implant system and the attachment or bridge type. Before you go, ask your dentist whether they can work with that system. Turkey's health tourism regulation entitles international patients, on request, to copies of the records of the materials used, the tests and the imaging, without charge²⁷.

Aftercare. Later adjustments, relining and repairs are usually done by a dentist near your home. Ask your own dentist whether they will see you afterwards. If you do not have a dentist where you live, it helps to find one before you travel. In an emergency, do not wait for the clinic's reply. Go to the nearest emergency department or call the emergency number where you are. What a health service or an insurer covers after treatment abroad differs from country to country. Before you go, ask the health service or your insurer where you live what they would cover.

Your choice. Dentists near your home also make dentures. A second opinion from one of them gives you a point of comparison, and having treatment there remains an option. You can say no, or ask to stop, at any stage. Once a tooth has been extracted or prepared, that step cannot be undone.