ADAPTATION ACCURACY OF TWO DIFFERENT DENTURE BASE MATERIALS FOR THE COMPLETELY EDENTULOUS MAXILLARY ARCH: AN IN VITRO STUDY

Abstract

Objectives: to compare between adaptation accuracy of metallic denture base and injection-molded denture base for the edentulous maxillary arch. Materials and Methods: Ten stone casts were obtained from duplicating an educational model of a maxillary edentulous arch. The casts were divided into two equal groups; group I received metallic denture bases while group II received denture bases constructed from injection-molded Thermopress. The dentures and their respective casts were sectioned and gap measurements were made in the mid-palatal and crestal areas using a travelling microscope. Results: gap measurements at the mid-palatal areas were significantly higher than those at the crestal areas in both groups. On comparing the two groups, there was no significant difference between the two groups both at the crestal and mid-palatal areas. Conclusions: Metal denture bases and injection molded dentures base show comparable levels of adaptation accuracies and are both suitable alternatives for heat cured PMMA denture bases.