Prosthodontics dental materials: From conventional to unconventional

Abstract

New inventions and innovations in the field of dentistry have potential applications to satisfy the patient's demand. In prosthodontics, a dental prosthesis plays a major role in improving the quality of oral health care. Currently, the trends have shifted towards the implants and implant-supported prosthesis for the replacement of missing teeth. Conventional dentures are patient's preference mainly due to financial constraints. In an attempt to find solutions to current problems, we have come across new materials zirconium, titanium and new inventions like flexible dentures, fenestrated dentures, and CAD/CAM fabricated dentures. Using the progress of past five years in the field of prosthodontics, this comprehensive review focuses on denture base materials, denture liners, removable partial dentures, fixed prosthesis such as crown and bridge materials, implant-supported a fixed denture, artificial teeth materials, impression materials, and ingenious alternatives to conventional dentures. This article also sheds some light on the current promising researches and gives insight into the problems that can be the focus of future researches.

Keywords: Artificial teeth materials; Denture base materials; Fixed prosthesis; Impression materials; Ingenious alternatives; Prosthetic advances; Prosthodontics materials.