The Use of the Flexible Thermoplastic Nylon-Based Dental Prostheses: A Literature Review

Background: Nylon-based removable partial dentures, such as Valplast® (Valplast International Corp, Westbury NY, USA), have been proposed as a valuable alternative to acrylic resin prostheses, particularly following oral surgical extractions and in patients with suspected methacrylate hypersensitivity. This review aimed to evaluate the clinical indications guiding the use of nylon-based prostheses after oral surgical extractions and to investigate their prevalence in patients with documented acrylic allergies. Methods: Following PRISMA 2020 guidelines, a comprehensive search was conducted in six databases (PubMed, Scopus, Embase, Google Scholar, LILACS, and Cochrane Library) for studies published between 2015 and 2025. Eligible studies were critically appraised using the Joanna Briggs Institute (IBI) tools. Results: Nine studies met the inclusion criteria, all of which were low-level evidence (six case reports and three case series), comprising a total of 11 patients (mean age 43 years). Nylon-based prostheses were used in both maxillary and mandibular arches, with rehabilitation motivated by esthetic and functional reasons. Outcomes were generally favorable, with patients reporting satisfaction in terms of comfort, function, and esthetics. Conclusions: Current evidence supporting the use of nylon-based removable partial dentures remains extremely limited and is based exclusively on case reports and small case series. While this type of prostheses represents a viable post-surgical rehabilitation option, primarily chosen for esthetic and functional benefits, evidence on their use in patients with documented acrylic hypersensitivity remains lacking. The low quality and limited number of studies highlight the need for prospective, controlled, and long-term research to clarify the role of nylon prostheses in post-surgical oral rehabilitation and to define their effectiveness in patients with material allergies.