Materials
Acrylic
Acrylic is a hard, lightweight plastic that dental labs shape into denture bases, denture teeth, night guards, and temporary crowns.
In dentistry, acrylic usually means a plastic called polymethyl methacrylate, or PMMA. The lab mixes it from a powder and a liquid, shapes it in a mold, and hardens it with heat or a chemical reaction. Acrylic can be tinted pink to look like gums or clear for a guard. A study in the NIH library says the majority of denture bases are made from PMMA. Acrylic is easy to adjust and repair, but it can wear down, stain, or crack if it is dropped. That is why a denture needs gentle cleaning. Acrylic is also used for temporary crowns and a night guard. See our denture repair page.