Slippage, discomfort, and sore spots are often associated with wearing a dental prosthesis, along with trouble speaking and chewing. But what if these problems could be eliminated? Innovations in dental baseplate materials and fabrication technologies are revolutionizing dentures. Patients today can comfortably enjoy their favorite foods and confidently join conversations with renewed smiles.
In this article, we will look at the latest in dental baseplate technologies and materials and how they are driving patient satisfaction.
More than 36 million Americans are edentulous, having lost all their natural teeth. Advances in permanent and try-in dental baseplate materials and fabrication technologies are driving improvements in dental prostheses. When it comes to fabrication, 3D printing can form precise dentures that look and feel like natural teeth and CAD/CAM software can create highly accurate digital impressions of patients’ mouths to improve denture fit. Implant-supported dentures are highly stable and can even eliminate the need for a baseplate, but their cost may be prohibitive for many patients, and they require surgery.
Fortunately, there are modern permanent baseplate options that provide stability and comfort while requiring less financial outlay and no surgical intervention. Thermoplastic resins provide a snug but flexible hold, eliminating sore spots. Metal bases are strong and suitable for those without sensitivities, while acrylic resins are typically the most common and cost-effective base materials for dentures. Acrylics are also known for ease of adjustment and the ability to mimic natural gum shade. But before arriving at permanent dentures, a critical step in the fabrication of most prostheses is creating a try-in dental baseplate, also known as a trial base or record base.
How is this done? Using innovative wax, shellac, or light-cure materials, a trial dental baseplate is created to establish an accurate mold for the final dental prosthesis. Light-cure baseplate materials harden quickly with little shrinkage, often providing a more refined trial base or even a final denture base due to its strength, precision, and fast set time. Shellac is another dental base material used for try-ins, but it can become brittle or distort when heated, compromising the accuracy of the final denture.
Dental baseplate wax sheets, on the other hand, are often the material of choice since they are inexpensive, easily molded when heated, and pliable at mouth temperature. They help establish the form of the arch, bite registration, and occlusal plane and record the relationship of existing upper and lower natural teeth. Wax is also tacky, which is helpful in the arrangement and placement of artificial teeth.
The American Dental Association has set standards for baseplate wax. Modern baseplate wax typically comes in red or pink to provide a more accurate preview of how the final dentures will look in the mouth. Today’s wax is easy to form, simple to carve when making adjustments, and highly polishable for smoothness and shine. The best wax formulations will boil out cleanly without leaving any residue behind. Why is this important? The preliminary wax baseplate must be removed completely from the dental mold for the acrylic resin to adhere fully and avoid imperfections. By ensuring the surface is wax-free, the final denture will fit more accurately and comfortably.
These medium soft No. 3 baseplate wax sheets have enhanced molding properties and soften and cool easily with minimal shrinkage. Made of a highly pliable and durable composition, they are ideal for fabricating temporary record bases and occlusal rims, which are essential for establishing bite registration and recording the relationship of upper and lower natural teeth. Plus, the wax sheets are sticky for optimum hold when arranging artificial teeth for denture try-in procedures. Available in pink or red gum-colored sheets, they provide an accurate preview of dentures, take a high polish, and boil out cleanly for a better final product.
Innovative baseplate materials and manufacturing technologies are making dental prostheses more lasting and comfortable. They ensure a seamless integration with the patient’s mouth for a precise fit, restored chewing and speech functions, and a confident, healthy-looking smile.