The Effect of Silica and Prepolymer Nanoparticles on the Mechanical Properties of Denture Base Acrylic Resin.

PURPOSE: To evaluate how hydrophobic nanoparticle silica and prepolymer affect the flexural strength, surface hardness, surface roughness, and resilience of a denture base acrylic resin. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of 40 denture base acrylic resin specimens with dimensions 65 × 10 × 3 mm3 were fabricated in this study. Specimens were divided into five experimental groups (n = 8) according to surface-treated silica and prepolymer concentration incorporated into the acrylic resin (weight %) prior to polymerization: G1 acted as control, no fillers were used in this group. G2: 1 wt% 12 nm silica nanoparticles; G3: 5 wt% 12 nm silica nanoparticles; G4: 1 wt% 12 nm prepolymer nanoparticles; G5: 5 wt% 12 nm prepolymer nanoparticles were added into the acrylic mixture. Acrylic specimens were polymerized according to the manufacturer's instructions. Three-point bending test was performed to evaluate the flexural strength and the resilience of the specimens. Then, a digital profilometer was used to determine the surface roughness of the specimens. Surface hardness was conducted by a digital Shore D hardness testing machine. Surface analysis of one specimen in each group was performed with a scanning electron microscopy (SEM) to observe the fracture surfaces of specimens. ANOVA and Tukey tests were used for the statistical analysis (p < 0.05). RESULTS: Statistical analysis revealed significant differences among the groups. All groups showed poor flexural strength as compared with the control (p < 0.05). Regarding resilience, silica 5% showed the highest value whereas silica 1% showed the lowest value. Regarding Shore D hardness, silica 1% had the lowest hardness whereas polymer addition did not significantly influence the hardness of the acrylic resin (p < 0.05). Furthermore, silica 1% presented the highest roughness as compared with the other groups (p < 0.05). SEM images indicated some porosity and voids on fracture surfaces. CONCLUSIONS: Both the silica and prepolymer incorporation into acrylic resin adversely affected the flexural strength of the acrylic resin compared to control group. In all concentrations, prepolymer incorporation resulted in increased flexural strength of acrylic resins compared to silica addition. The greater concentrations of the fillers resulted in increased mechanical properties of the acrylic resin.

Effect of self and dual-curing on degree of conversion and crosslink density of dual-cure core build-up materials.

PURPOSE: Dual-cure core build-up resins have been developed to take advantages of both self and light-cured resin. The aim of present study was to determine the polymerization characteristics of self and dual-cured modes of dual-cure core build-up composites evaluating degree of conversion (DC) and crosslink density by measurement of glass-transition temperature (Tg) and hardness decrease in ethanol. METHODS: Clearfil Dc Core Automix (CLF) and Grandio Core Dc (GR) core build-up resins were selected. Twelve specimens for both composites were polymerized using quartz-halogen-tungsten light curing unit (QTH) and 12 specimens polymerized chemically. DC was determined by ATR-FTIR spectroscopy. TG/DTA analysis was performed to determine Tg. Microhardness value of specimens was determined by Vickers-tester before and after specimens stored in absolute ethanol for 24h. RESULTS: One-way ANOVA showed no different DC values between dual and self-cured mode of GR and dual-cured CLF composites had higher DC than self-cured mode. Tg and percentage of softening in ethanol values of GR and CLF revealed significant difference between self and dual-cured mode. CONCLUSIONS: In comparison of GR and CLF, DC showed no statistical difference in both curing modes. However, dual and self-cured GR has statistically higher Tg values and lower percentage of softening in ethanol than CLF. Polymerization characteristics of dual-cure core build-up composites have superiority in dual-cured mode than self-cured.

Biofilm-forming ability and adherence to poly-(methyl-methacrylate) acrylic resin materials of oral Candida albicans strains isolated from HIV positive subjects.

PURPOSE: This study evaluated the adhesion to acrylic resin specimens and biofilm formation capability of Candida albicans strains isolated from HIV positive subjects' oral rinse solutions. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The material tested was a heat-cured acrylic resin (Acron Duo). Using the adhesion and crystal violet assays, 14 oral Candida albicans isolated from HIV-positive subjects and 2 references Candida strains (C. albicans ATCC 90028 and C. albicans ATCC 90128) were compared for their biofilm production and adhesion properties to acrylic surfaces in vitro. RESULTS: There were no significant differences in adhesion (P=.52) and biofilm formation assays (P=.42) by statistical analysis with Mann-Whitney test. CONCLUSION: Denture stomatitis and increased prevalence of candidal carriage in HIV infected patients is unlikely to be related to the biofilm formation and adhesion abilities of C. albicans to acrylic resin materials.

Influence of gag reflex on removable prosthetic restoration tolerance according to the patient section of the short form of the Gagging Problem Assessment Questionnaire.

PURPOSE: To assess removable prosthetic restoration tolerance according to the patient section of the short form of the Gagging Problem Assessment Questionnaire (GPA-pa SF) and the influence of gender, education level and prosthesis type and denture-related mucosal irritation on the GPA-pa SF scores before treatment and over a period of two months after prosthesis insertion. MATERIALS AND METHODS: 130 participants who required removable prosthesis were surveyed with a standard form that included questions regarding age, gender, education level, dental attendance, and prosthetic restoration type. Participants answered the GPA-pa SF before restoration (T0) and 1 day (T1), 2 days (T2), 15 days (T3), 1 month (T4), and 2 months (T5) after prosthesis insertion. RESULTS: Of the 130 participants, 110 participants completed the prosthetic restoration procedure, but only 93 of these were able to use the prosthesis over the two-month period. The mean GPA-pa SF score obtained at T0 was higher than the scores obtained at the other periods in the total of the sample. Significant difference was present between mean scores obtained at T0-T1 and T2-T3 than scores obtained at other periods (P<.05). Female participants and participants with denture-related mucosal irritation had higher GPA-pa SF scores at all time points analysed. Significant difference was present between mean GPA-pa SF scores obtained at T2-T3 than scores obtained at other periods for females and participants with denture-related mucosal irritation (P<.05). Education level and prosthesis type did not significantly influence the GPA-pa SF score at any time point analysed (P>.05). CONCLUSION: GPA-pa SF scores were higher before the restoration procedure began, and decreased over time with the use of prosthesis. Gender and denture-related mucosal irritation affected the GPA-pa SF scores.

In vitro cytotoxicity of indirect composite resins: effect of storing in artificial saliva.

AIM: The aim of this study was to compare the cytotoxic effects of two indirect composite resins (Artglass and Solidex) on the viability of L-929 fibroblast cells at different incubation periods by storing them in artificial saliva (AS). MATERIALS AND METHODS: Disk-shaped test samples were prepared according to manufacturers' instructions. Test materials were cured with light source (Dentacolor XS, Heraus Kulzer, Germany). The samples were divided into two groups. The first group's samples were transferred into a culture medium for 1 hour, 24 hours, 72 hours, 1 week and 2 weeks. The other group's samples were transferred into a culture medium for 1 hours, 24 hours, 72 hours, 1 week, and 2 weeks after being stored in AS for 48 hours. The eluates were obtained and pipetted for evaluation onto L-929 mouse fibroblast cultures incubated for 24 hours. Measurements were performed by MTT (3-(4,5)-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyl tetrazolium bromide) assay. The degree of cytotoxicity for each sample was determined according to the reference values represented by the cells with a control group. RESULTS: Statistical significance was determined by ANOVA. Both groups presented lower cell viability in comparison to the control group at all periods. Storing in artificial saliva reduced cytotoxicity significantly (P < 0.05). Stored Artglass and Solidex showed similar effects on cytotoxicity. Nonstored Solidex samples were found more cytotoxic than Artglass samples. The cell survival rate results of 24-hour incubation period were significantly lower than those of the other experimental periods (P < 0.05). CONCLUSION: Storing indirect composite resins in AS may reduce cytotoxic effects on the fibroblast cells. However, resin-based dental materials continue to release sufficient components to cause cytotoxic effects in vitro after 48 hours of storing in AS.