Midline Fractures in Single Maxillary Complete Acrylic vs Flexible Dentures

Area of Science:

• Dental Materials Science
• Prosthodontics
• Biomaterials Engineering

Background:

• Single maxillary dentures opposing natural mandibular teeth are prone to midline fractures with conventional acrylic materials.
• Previous repair techniques have often proven unsuccessful in addressing recurrent denture fractures.
• This study investigates the efficacy of a flexible denture material (Lucitone) using an injection molding system to mitigate midline fractures.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the effectiveness of flexible denture material in preventing midline fractures in single maxillary dentures.
• To assess patient-reported outcomes including mastication, phonetics, esthetics, and comfort.
• To compare the performance of flexible dentures against traditional methyl methacrylate dentures.

Main Methods:

• Fifty-eight patients with a history of midline fracture in acrylic maxillary dentures were enrolled (age 38-80).
• New dentures were fabricated using a flexible denture material (Lucitone) via injection molding.
• Outcomes including mastication, phonetics, esthetics, and comfort were systematically evaluated post-delivery.

Main Results:

• Only two patients experienced minor palatal cracks after 18 months of use, indicating high durability.
• Significant improvements were observed in mastication and phonetics with the flexible dentures.
• Patient tolerance and overall satisfaction were notably higher compared to previous acrylic dentures.

Conclusions:

• Flexible denture material offers a promising solution for preventing midline fractures in single maxillary dentures.
• The material demonstrates superior durability and patient acceptance over conventional methyl methacrylate.
• This approach enhances functional and esthetic outcomes for patients with single maxillary dentures.