Improving PMMA in prosthodontics: a literature review

Year 2025, Volume: 26 Issue: 1, 5 - 10, 28.03.2025

Nuran Yanıkoğlu , Osayd Alawawda

Abstract

Since its introduction in the 1930s, PMMA has been the primary denture base material in use. This is due to the fact that PMMA is affordable, visually pleasing, and medically compatible. Nonetheless, PMMA’s intrinsic flaws-primarily its poor flexural strength and impact resistance-make it imperative to look for solutions to address these two crucial deficiencies. The latest developments involve the insertion of silver, zirconium oxide (ZrO2), and titanium dioxide (TiO2) nanoparticles, which are said to increase the mechanical characteristics even further, such as flexural strength, hardness, and wear resistance. To further increase the impact strength and durability of PMMA, fibers can be added to the material. These fibers can be synthetic (like polyester or carbon) or natural (like sisal or bamboo). Improvements in surface treatments and bonding methods have also strengthened PMMA’s binding and made it more compatible with other materials. Aging research demonstrates that reinforced PMMA is more resilient to environmental stress, making it a material of choice for long-term dental applications. Furthermore, the use of antimicrobial compounds and nanoparticles offers additional benefits, such as the presence of antifungal qualities that mitigate biofilm development and improve the overall biocompatibility of dental prostheses. These developments thus suggest that there is still a lot of promise for the modified PMMA in dental applications, both in terms of improving performance and extending its useful life in a clinical setting. The aim of this review is to explore the advancements in reinforcing PMMA (polymethyl methacrylate) for dental prosthetics by analyzing various modifications.

Keywords

Polymethyl methacrylate, PMMA, nanoparticle reinforcement, fiber reinforcement, denture base materials, mechanical properties

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