Acrylic Dental Appliances – Smooth & Polish

A dental lab required a polishing process for acrylic retainers, such as Hawley-style appliances, with a focus on consistency and throughput. The polishing needed to smooth the tongue-side surface without altering the tissue-contacting side, which must remain dimensionally accurate. Wire polishing was acceptable but not mandatory. The process also needed to support optional masking and high production volumes of 100–125 units per day.

Bel Air developed a high-throughput polishing process using a Centrifugal Disc Finisher to refine the tongue-side surface of acrylic dental appliances. The process smoothed and enhanced the finish without affecting the critical tissue-contact areas. Wire components could be safely polished without damage, and masking options were available for cases requiring selective finishing. This automated solution significantly reduced manual labor while supporting production volumes of over 100 retainers per day.

If you are unsure what equipment and media you require to achieve your desired surface finish, then send us your part, and we will evaluate it and provide you with a metrology report.