Acrylic/Composite Teeth Gain on Porcelain

For years, porcelain was the material of choice for denture teeth because of its ability to replicate the appearance of natural dentition. But as we entered the 1990s, acrylic denture teeth had replaced porcelain as the industry standard; in fact, the use of porcelain teeth had dropped 50% during the previous decade.

Acrylic teeth offered several functional advantages: they were kinder to opposing dentition with less trauma to the bone and offered easier occlusal adjustment. However, earlier materials tended to craze and check and weren’t as esthetic as the tried-and-true porcelain. Over time, cross-linking techniques were refined, resulting in more durable acrylic teeth. Improved opalescence, translucency and shade consistency—especially among the new generation of composite teeth—further contributed to the growing use of acrylic teeth.