Plastics for Dental Equipment

For decades, plastics have been an integral part of dentistry. From components in dental splints to cabinetry in offices, instrument grips, and biocompatible prostheses, plastics are used in a majority of dental equipment seen in dentistries and dental laboratories:

• Acetal and PEEK form the clasps on dental frames, support provisional bridges, and are machined into post-surgery space retainers and stump pivots.
• Polypropylene's durability, flexibility, and chemical resistance make it a good fit for dental instrument handles, orthodontic appliances, and packaging for dental products.
• PMMA, also known as acrylic, is a durable thermoplastic used to fabricate dentures and other dental restoration devices. FDA compliant biocompatible acrylic dental discs are used in dental milling machines to precisely match the contours of an individual's mouth taken via impressions or digital scans.
• High Density Polyethylene (HDPE) is a lightweight and tough plastic with great chemical resistance. Its uses in dentistry include retainers and mouthguards, prosthetic sockets, packaging, and cabinetry in dental offices.

Plastic materials for dental equipment fall under NAICS #339116 as well as SIC #3843 and 8072.

• [Acetal Datasheet]
• [HDPE Datasheet]
• [Polypropylene Datasheet]
• [UHMW Datasheet]

Though stainless steel or carbon steel alloys are a common material for many dental instruments, plastics also see use as the handles, grips, and coatings. Plastics such as acetal see use in orthodontic brackets, bridges, and reatiners, while polypropylene is used in the handles of dental instruments.

The most commonly used polymer in dentistry is a biocompatible grade of polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA), also known as acrylic. FDA compliant acrylic is used to create denture bases and acrylic teeth.

Thermoplastics are used as the base material for mouth guards. Their ability to be heated and molded into specific shapes to fit any mouth shape make them a perfect fit for custom mouth guards. Specific plastics used in mouth guards include ethylene vinyl acetate (EVA), polyurethane, polyethylene, and silicone. The type of plastic used for a mouth guard depends on how much protection is necessary, patient comfort, and potential allergic reactions to the material.