Biological and chemophysical features of specially designed microwave-cured acrylic denture resin

Abstract

Background/aim Assortment of denture-based materials and their various curing methods have a great impact on their physical and biological properties. However, esthetics is the most significant parameter in prosthodontics, which is highly deteriorated by water sorption, solubility, and porosity. Moreover, porosity has a great effect on both bacterial and fungus colonization on its surface. This study aimed to assess and compare some physical and biological properties of both heat-cured and microwave-cured acrylic denture-based resins.Patients and methods This study was divided into two parts, in vitro and in vivo parts. The heat-cured and microwave-cured acrylic resin materials were used. Both were utilized for specimens’ fabrication in different dimensions according to ADA specifications to assess their physical and biological criteria. Stereo light microscope aided in determining porosity, while both water sorption and solubility were calibrated by employing an electronic-balance device, besides a specific formula for every test individually. In addition, complete dentures were fabricated for 12 edentulous patients from both materials (n=6). Candida albicans colonization was assessed by employing both chromogenic candida agar and laboratory-incubator device.Results The microwave-cured acrylic denture resin exhibited the lower significant mean value than the conventional heat-cured one in water sorption, corrected water sorption and porosity tests as P value more than or equal to 0.05. Furthermore, it had a significant lower mean value in C. albicans colonization during all visits as P value less than 0.05.Conclusion The microwave-cured acrylic resin proved to be better as compared with conventional heat-cured denture resin a regarding porosity, water sorption, and solubility, and it had the least affinity to C. albicans colonization.