Prosthodontic Materials and Fabrication Techniques
Summary
Prosthodontic rehabilitation has witnessed a transformative shift from conventionally processed acrylics and metal frameworks to a diverse palette of advanced polymers, composites and digital workflows. Traditional heat-cured polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA) remains a cornerstone for denture bases, valued for its ease of manipulation, aesthetic versatility and cost-effectiveness. Yet, limitations in impact resistance, wear performance and dimensional stability have spurred research into fibre and nanoparticle reinforcements, surface treatments and chemical modifications. Concurrently, subtractive and additive digital fabrication—encompassing computer-aided design/computer-aided manufacturing (CAD-CAM) milling and three-dimensional (3D) printing—has redefined precision and reproducibility. Milling pre-polymerised resin blocks offers superior accuracy, reduced residual monomer and enhanced fit, while 3D printing affords rapid prototyping, customisable geometry and streamlined clinical workflows. Emerging composite formulations combine PMMA with ceramics, polymers such as polyetheretherketone (PEEK) and metal oxides to bolster mechanical properties, biocompatibility and antimicrobial function. Across all methods, the optimisation of polymerisation kinetics, layer adhesion, surface roughness and long-term stability under oral environmental stresses remains paramount. These advances collectively aim to improve patient comfort, prosthesis longevity and digital record-keeping, with a global impact on access to affordable, high-performance dental prostheses.
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Prosthodontic Materials and Fabrication Techniques publication trend
The graph below shows the total number of articles in prosthodontic materials and fabrication techniques across all publications each year (not limited to Nature Index journals).
Technical terms
Polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA): A acrylic polymer widely used for denture bases due to its transparency, ease of processing and economic viability.
CAD-CAM: Computer-aided design and computer-aided manufacturing technologies that enable digital modelling and precise fabrication of dental prostheses.
3D printing: Additive manufacturing process that builds objects layer by layer from digital models, allowing customised prosthesis geometries.
Nanocomposite: A multi-phase material in which nanoparticles are dispersed within a polymer matrix to enhance mechanical and functional properties.
Shear bond strength: A measure of the adhesive force required to slide two bonded surfaces past one another under applied load.
Flexural strength: The stress at which a material yields or fractures under bending forces, indicating resistance to deformation and fracture.
References
- Fabrication of PMMA nanocomposite biomaterials reinforced by cellulose nanocrystals extracted from rice husk for dental applications. Friction (2024).
- CAD-CAM complete denture resins: Effect of relining on the shear bond strength. Journal of Dentistry (2023).
- 3D printed denture base material: The effect of incorporating TiO2 nanoparticles and artificial ageing on the physical and mechanical properties. Dental Materials (2023).
- TiO2 and PEEK Reinforced 3D Printing PMMA Composite Resin for Dental Denture Base Applications. Nanomaterials (2019).
- Do CAD/CAM dentures really release less monomer than conventional dentures?. Clinical Oral Investigations (2016).
- CAD/CAM produces dentures with improved fit. Clinical Oral Investigations (2018).
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