Acrylic partial dentures--interim or permanent prostheses?

An acrylic partial denture (APD) is one option for replacing missing teeth and is also the most cost effective treatment option. Dentists are faced with the demand for replacing missing teeth from patients with limited financial resources; therefore the replacement of missingteeth with an APD is a common occurrence. One of the disadvantages of APD's is its poor strength. Dentists and dental technicians tend to design and construct acrylic partial dentures with little or no tooth support. This can have a detrimental effect on the surrounding hard as well as soft tissue. This article argues that APD's can be considered as a permanent prosthesis, provided that proper patient selection, education and the principles of partial denture design are adhered to.