ARTIFICIAL DENTURE COMPOSITIONS AND THEIR PRODUCTION

A polymerizable power-liquid composition suitable for the production of dental prostheses contains a bead polymer, a liquid monomer containing methyl methacrylate and an acrylate or methacrylate ester having at least one OH group in its alcohol radical, and 0.2 to 20%, by weight of liquid monomer, of an ethylenically unsaturated polymerizable carboxylic acid or an anhydride thereof. Suitable hydroxy - ester monomers include hydroxyalkyl (meth)acrylates in which the alkyl group has up to 6 carbon atoms, and glycerol mono(meth)acrylate; suitable acid monomers include acrylic, methacrylic, maleic and itaconic acids and their anhydrides. The liquid monomer may also include a cross-linking monomer, e.g. the dimethacrylate of ethylene or butylene glycol. The bead polymer is preferably a homopolymer or copolymer of methyl methacrylate, e.g. with a comonomer such as an acrylate or methacrylate ester or butadiene; or a mixture of such polymers. The composition may include the usual resin, plasticizer or dyestuff additives, and is generally cured in a mould using a catalyst such as benzoyl peroxide.