Soft and firm denture liner for a composite denture and method for fabricating

Abstract

The invention provides a denture liner composition for a composite denture based on a phosphonitrilic fluoroelastomer (poly(fluoroalkoxy)phosphazene) curable at atmospheric pressure at temperatures of 100.degree. C. or less, conveniently by immersing the packed denture flask in a water bath at the appropriate temperature. The composition includes filler materials for increasing the hardness of the cured liner, interpenetrating polymers for increasing firmness and bond strength, and cross-linking agents for increasing the tensile strength and bond strength of the cured liner. The composite denture is preferably prepared in a one-step process wherein the liner composition material of a single firmness is cured in situ with the denture base material. Alternatively, a firm liner material may be cured at the periphery of the denture and a softer liner material cured at the center, in order to provide a firm elastic liner where adjustments must be made by grinding and where the patient's soft tissues must be displaced, and a soft elastic liner over the bony anatomy of the patient where stresses from chewing are most concentrated and the soft tissues are thin.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.