metal acrylic dental crown

DENTAL ACRYLIC RESTORATIONS

Acrylic resins restorations have been widely used in dentistry in the past but since higher quality materials have emerged, they have lost ground. Although they are still used in certain parts of the world as permanent restorations, their main indication is for temporary prosthetic devices.

The main advantage is their low cost and easy manufacturing but they are significantly inferior to both porcelain and dental composite.

metal acrylic dental crown

When permanent restorations are designed, they will always have a metal shell on which acrylic is placed in specially prepared areas. Most of the times, acrylic will cover only visible areas of the crown and it cannot be placed on the chewing side of the tooth because of its low resistance.

Indications

When the cost of a porcelain (or composite) restoration is too high for the patient. To overcome the negative consequences of teeth loss, it is very important to restore the edentulous spaces as soon as possible.

This is why an acrylic restoration is better than nothing, at least until the patient will have the financial situation for a superior prosthesis.

Limited indications for the following cases : elderly persons, people with other acrylic restorations which they don't want to change, very poor persons.

Temporary crowns or other temporary restorations. It is the main indication of acrylic restorations. In this case, the temporary crown doesn't need a metal shell because its life span is very short (until the definitive restoration is completed).