Dental acrylic resin radiopacity: literature review and survey of practitioners' attitudes.

This study was initiated to ascertain the existence and some specifics of medical problems caused by traumatic ingestion/aspiration of fragments of radiolucent dental prostheses, and to evaluate opinions of radiopacity inclusion. A survey of 50 United States departments of oral surgery and emergency medicine yielded a 60% response. Results indicated that such medical problems are seen and would be reduced by incorporation of radiopaque materials. However, current technology cannot produce clinically acceptable levels of radiopacity without degrading physical and esthetic properties of the acrylic resin.