Porcelain vs. Acrylic Occlusion: Choosing the Right Dental Material

When you lose a tooth from injury or disease, a dental professional can provide an artificial tooth made from porcelain or acrylic plastic. He can also help you decide which material will do the best job of providing you with a balanced occlusion, or even bite.

History

• Traditionally, porcelain teeth looked more natural and lasted longer. With the discovery of new biomaterials, acrylic teeth have become much more wear-resistant.

Features

• According to Denture Help, good quality porcelain teeth are the most natural-looking products, and set the standard for aesthetics. Despite advances in biomaterials, porcelain teeth still do a better job of holding up over time, but they do crack and chip more easily. Acrylic teeth, on the other hand, do a better job of muffling sounds from "clacking" or teeth tapping.

Benefit

• The more resistant porcelain teeth are less likely to wear down with use, so will maintain a balanced occlusion longer than acrylic teeth will.

Considerations

• Some people have lost bone in their jaws and have less supportive gum tissue than others. If you're one of these people, acrylic teeth, which stay in place better when you grind or tap your teeth, may be the best choice.

Tip

• A dental professional can discuss the pros and cons of porcelain versus acrylic teeth and help you decide which option is best for your lifestyle.