Flexural properties of repaired heat‐polymerising acrylic resin after wetting with monomer and acetone

Abstract

Repair strength can be improved by treating fractured surfaces of a denture. This study investigated flexural properties of heat-polymerised acrylic resin specimens repaired with auto-polymerising and visible light curing (VLC) resins after the repair surfaces were wetted with monomers or acetone. Fifty-four specimens (65 x 10 x 2.5 mm) were prepared and 48 of them were sectioned to simulate denture fracture. Butt-joint designed repair surfaces were wetted with heat-, auto-polymerising monomers and acetone for 180 s and repaired with auto-polymerising and VLC resins. After repairs, specimens were subjected to three-point bending test and flexural strength, strain, fracture load, modulus of elasticity and deflection values were recorded. Data were analysed with Student t and LSD tests (p < or = 0.05). Overall flexural strength, strain, fracture load and deflection values of specimens repaired with VLC resin were significantly higher than the specimens repaired with auto-polymerising resin for all types of wetting agent (p < 0.05). Within the wetting agents, heat- and auto-polymerising monomers produced the best mechanical properties, while wetting with acetone did not provide superior effect over both monomers. In clinical use, wetting the repair surfaces may result in stronger repairs. The use of bonding agent in VLC resin repairs in combination with wetting agent results in improved flexural properties.