Abstract:

A wide range of thermoplastic materials for the fabrication of removable partial dentures is available for use in the everyday dental practice. Evaluation of the physical properties of the materials used for the fabrication of these removable dentures is important, because they affect not only the aesthetics of the construction but also its longevity and function. Thermoplastic polyamides, also known as nylons, are one of the four major groups of flexible materials used for treating partially edentulous patients with removable partial dentures.
Aim. The aim of the current review was to evaluate and compare the advantages and disadvantages between the different types of thermoplastic materials available and conventional polymethyl-methacrylate dentures in regards to their physical properties.
Materials and methods. A literature review was conducted using PubMed, Web of Science, Google Scholar, and others including scientific papers up to December of 2024. There was no restriction on the date of publishing and language of publications. The keywords used for conducting the search were combinations of the following: “nylon dentures”, “flexible dentures”, “polyamide”, “physical properties”, “color stability”, “water absorption”, “adhesion” and “PMMA”.
Conclusion. According to the results of the studies, currently, nylon-based, flexible polyamide represents an alternative to the conventional acrylic resins due to its clinically acceptable physical properties. The thermo-injectable flexible resins demonstrate better aesthetic qualities when compared to the conventional acrylic based dentures. When it comes to the water absorption the chemical composition of the nylon material is of key importance, however it remains a topic of discussion between researchers.

Keywords: denture base material, nylon, physical properties, polyamide, PMMA