SPONSORED BY GREATLAB
From Concept to Crown:
The PMMA Evolution

Welcome! Reading time: 900 words… 7 min.

BIG NEWS FIRST: We have launched our refer-a-friend program to get free gifts. Just scroll to the bottom of this email for your info ⬇️⬇️⬇️⬇️⬇️

Polymethyl Methacrylate (PMMA), commonly known as acrylic or acrylic glass, has a fascinating history in the field of dentistry, dating back to mid 20th century.

Let’s explore its journey from humble beginnings to its current role in dental lab restorations.

Origins and Early Use📚️ 

• PMMA was first synthesised in the early 1930s by German chemist Otto Röhm. Its transparent and glass-like properties make it an attractive material for various applications.

• In the 1930s, PMMA found its way into dentistry as a temporary material. Dentists used it for provisional crowns, bridges, and dentures while patients awaited their permanent restorations.

• Early PMMA formulations lacked the durability needed for long-term use, but they served well as temporary solutions.

• Its popularity grew due to its favourable properties such as biocompatibility, ease of processing, and aesthetics. PMMA became the material of choice for fabricating dentures and other dental prostheses due to its ability to mimic the appearance of natural teeth and gums.
  

  

Properties and Advantages➕ 

• Translucency: PMMA closely resembles natural teeth in terms of appearance due to its translucency.

• Ease of Shaping: Dentists can easily modify PMMA to achieve a natural look.

• Biocompatibility: PMMA is well-tolerated by oral tissues.

• Aesthetic Appeal: Patients appreciate the immediate improvement in both function and appearance when PMMA is used for temporary restorations.
  

  

PMMA in Temporary Dental Restorations 🦷 

• Temporary restorations play a crucial role while waiting for permanent prostheses. PMMA’s easy-to-modify nature allows dentists to create natural-looking temporaries.

• Patients benefit from immediate confidence boosts, knowing that their appearance and function are temporarily restored.

• Considerations include wear resistance and temporary bonding methods.

Evolution for Long-Term Restorations 🥼 

• Initially, concerns about PMMA’s durability limited its use in long-term restorations.

• Technological advances have addressed these concerns. PMMA now competes with materials like ceramics and composites.

• Its blend of strength, aesthetics, and biocompatibility makes it a viable option for long-lasting dental solutions.

• Dentists must assess factors like the patient’s oral environment and functional needs when choosing PMMA for long-term applications.

Another trend is the incorporation of nanotechnology into PMMA dental materials.

Nanofilled PMMA resins offer improved mechanical properties, such as increased strength and wear resistance, making them suitable for a wider range of dental applications, including crowns, bridges, and implant-supported restorations

Technological Strides🧑‍💻 

• Digital dentistry and CAD/CAM systems have revolutionised PMMA restorations.

• Precision design and fabrication allow for personalised restorations tailored to each patient’s needs.

• High-quality dental milling units and laboratory instruments contribute to precise and aesthetically pleasing outcomes.

Over the years, advancements in dental materials and technology have led to the development of stronger and more esthetic PMMA formulations.

One notable trend in recent years is the use of CAD/CAM (computer-aided design and computer-aided manufacturing) technology in dental laboratories. CAD/CAM systems allow for the precise milling of PMMA restorations based on digital scans of a patient's oral anatomy, resulting in highly accurate and customised prostheses.

Furthermore, the demand for more esthetic dental restorations has led to the development of PMMA materials with enhanced translucency and colour stability, allowing for restorations that closely match the natural appearance of teeth.

In summary, PMMA has a long history of use in dentistry and continues to be a versatile and widely used material for fabricating dental restorations.

Recent trends in PMMA technology include the use of CAD/CAM systems for precise fabrication, the incorporation of nanotechnology for improved mechanical properties, and the development of more esthetic formulations to meet the demands of modern dental patients.

Yes, PMMA (polymethyl methacrylate) has become a popular alternative to traditional acrylic materials for lab-made crowns and other dental restorations.

PMMA offers several advantages over traditional acrylics, including improved strength, durability, and esthetics. It can be milled with high precision using CAD/CAM technology, allowing for the fabrication of highly accurate and customised restorations.

Additionally, PMMA is indeed a 3D printable material.

With the advancements in additive manufacturing technologies, such as stereolithography (SLA) and digital light processing (DLP), PMMA resins can be used in 3D printing processes to create dental models, surgical guides, temporary restorations, and other dental components with high-precision and detail.

The ability to 3D print PMMA dental restorations offers several benefits, including faster production times, reduced material waste, and the ability to create complex geometries that may be challenging to achieve with traditional manufacturing methods.

As a result, 3D printing with PMMA has gained traction in dental laboratories and clinics as a versatile and efficient method for producing dental prostheses and other components.

Extra Resources Roundup

• What you need to know about Zirkonia (DTL)

• Applications Of PMMA (ScienceDirect)

• Lab Software to manage and grow ( HERE )

• Of the Library Shelf (NLM)

• How are dentists choosing crown material (Watch)

Thank you for staying connected with Dental Lab Tips.  We look forward to bringing you more exciting updates from the world of dental technology.