Evaluation of Cleanability of a Titanium Dioxide(TiO2) -coated Acrylic Resin Denture Base

Abstract

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the cleanability of a titanium dioxide (TiO2)-coated acrylic resin denture base.Materials and Methods: Two groups of acrylic resin denture base plate specimens were prepared: 1) the TiO2-coated group, and 2) the Polished group made using a conventional polishing method. The surface roughness and contact angle of plate specimens from both groups were measured. Each plate was immersed in an experimental bolus. Subsequently, the amount of experimental bolus residue left on the surfaces of the plates after ultrasonic cleaning was compared between groups. The groups were further divided into two groups with and without ultraviolet-A ray irradiation during cleaning.Results: The surface roughness of the TiO2-coated group was greater than that of the Polished group. Inversely, the contact angle of the TiO2-coated group was smaller than that of the Polished group (one-tenth that of the Polished group). There was a significant reduction in the experimental bolus residue ratio on the surfaces of the TiO2-coated plates. The use of ultraviolet-A ray irradiation was not significantly different. The decrease in the experimental bolus residue ratio of the TiO2-coated group was believed to be due to the considerable improvement in the wettability of the plates.Conclusion: The TiO2 coating on an acrylic resin denture base had a positive effect on its ease of cleaning by preventing the accumulation of experimental bolus residue.