Abstract: A method of joining a polymeric part and a metallic or ceramic part. The result is a bearing for an orthopedic prosthesis comprising a rigid backing component presenting a mating surface having interstices, a polymeric bearing component having a corresponding mating surface, the bearing component and backing components being joined together by heating the backing component to a temperature sufficient to reduce the viscosity of the bearing component at its mating surface and by forcing the components together with sufficient pressure to cause the bearing component mating surface to flow into the interstices of the backing component mating surface.