Comparison of polymethyl methacrylate and conventional acrylic in dentistry

Abstract

Polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA) is a widely used material in dentistry for the fabrication of dental prostheses due to its mechanical, aesthetic, and biocompatibility properties. However, with the advancement of technologies such as computer-aided design and manufacturing (CAD-CAM), the need has arisen to compare these innovations with conventional acrylic. The objective of this study was to evaluate the differences between PMMA processed using CAD-CAM technology and conventional acrylic in terms of mechanical properties, surface roughness, color stability, and relative translucency, as well as their clinical impact. A systematic review was conducted following the PRISMA 2020 methodology, using a search algorithm in PubMed that initially identified 167 studies. After applying inclusion/exclusion criteria, 12 studies were selected for analysis. The results showed that CAD-CAM PMMA exhibits better mechanical properties, lower surface roughness, and greater color stability compared to conventional acrylic. However, 3D-printed resins still show limitations in mechanical strength and consistency. Additionally, relative translucency varies depending on the brand and processing method. In conclusion, CAD-CAM PMMA outperforms conventional acrylic in applications requiring high strength and aesthetics, although further research is needed to optimize the properties of 3D-printed materials and standardize relative translucency. This study provides a solid foundation for material selection in prosthetic dentistry.