Losing one’s teeth can be an unpleasant experience for anyone. But fortunately, well-fitted partial or full dentures can be indistinguishable from natural teeth. Dentures are available in various materials such as porcelain, acrylic and composite resins.  Porcelain and acrylic dentures are the most commonly used. However, the most appropriate material involves careful consideration of wear and tear, maintenance and durability.

•         Wear: Porcelain can be harder than acrylic. Porcelain teeth are more durable as they can resist wear (deterioration) and the dentures can preserve normal jaw movements and also alignment for a longer period of time. Acrylic teeth on the other hand may have abrasion. It could wear down with time and can cause changes in the length of the teeth.
•         Strength: Porcelain teeth can chip off and have cracks in comparison to teeth made of acrylic. Acrylic teeth are less likely to break, chip off or develop fractures. Acrylic Dentures are a better choice of dentures than porcelain if you need only partial dentures as porcelain may cause excessive wear on natural teeth.
•         Bone Loss: Acrylic teeth are often chosen by those who face bone loss in their jaws or those who have unhealthy gums. Chewing puts pressure on the dentures which would transfer that force on to the bones underlying the gums. Constant force can change the underlying bone and that affects the dentures or the bite. The unbalanced pressure might cause further damage to the bone. Porcelain teeth can easily transfer great amounts of force with higher intensity when compared to acrylic teeth. Acrylic teeth also transfer less pressure that arises due to different habits such as tapping teeth, clenching or grinding.
•         Cleaning: Acrylic teeth have the power to resist staining. However, they contain microscopic pits that can hold bacteria. Quick soaking or brushing doesn’t effectively remove bacteria. However, overnight soaking can help in thorough cleaning of the dentures. If this is not done, the bacteria left on the acrylic teeth can easily and rapidly multiply to cause an infection or bad breath. At the same time, porcelain dentures need to be handled carefully while cleaning. They need to be cleaned over the sink filled with water to reduce the amount of chipping in case the dentures slip and fall.

Porcelain and acrylic dentures are different when it comes to costing as well. But while acrylic dentures are quieter and are similar to natural teeth, porcelain teeth, on the other hand, might cause some sound while chewing. But both acrylic and porcelain dentures need to be checked regularly by a professional to ensure it fits properly. In terms of durability, acrylic dentures wear out sooner than the porcelain dentures.

Patients always choose the right partial dentures based on their convenience. The prosthetist can carefully assess the options as well as overall health of an individual to determine the sustainability for various types of partial dentures. They take into account various factors including the appearance, feel, grip and stability, oral sensitivity, financial considerations, oral health and teeth structure, financial considerations, support of remaining teeth and control of the patient and dexterity. The choice of dentures, either the porcelain ones or acrylic one is up to you. All you need to do is schedule an appointment with a dentist and you’ll soon have brand new teeth!