Flexural Strength and Hardness of Filler-Reinforced PMMA Targeted for Denture Base Application.

Abdulaziz Alhotan,Julfikar Haider,Julian Yates,Nikolaos Silikas,Saleh Zidan

doi:10.3390/ma14102659

Abdulaziz Alhotan, Julfikar Haider + Show 3 more

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https://doi.org/10.3390/ma14102659

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Abstract

The aim of this work was to evaluate the flexural strength and surface hardness of heat-cured Polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA) modified by the addition of ZrO2 nanoparticles, TiO2 nanoparticles, and E-glass fibre at different wt.% concentrations. Specimens were fabricated and separated into four groups (n = 10) to measure both flexural strength and surface hardness. Group C was the control group. The specimens in the remaining three groups differed according to the ratio of filler to weight of PMMA resin (1.5%, 3%, 5%, and 7%). A three-point bending test was performed to determine the flexural strength, while the surface hardness was measured using the Vickers hardness. Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM) was employed to observe the fractured surface of the specimens. The flexural strength was significantly improved in the groups filled with 3 wt.% ZrO2 and 5 and 7 wt.% E-glass fibre in comparison to Group C. All the groups displayed a significantly higher surface hardness than Group C, with the exception of the 1.5% TiO2 and 1.5% ZrO2 groups. The optimal filler concentrations to enhance the flexural strength of PMMA resin were between 3–5% ZrO2, 1.5% TiO2, and 3–7% E-glass fibre. Furthermore, for all composites, a filler concentration of 3 wt.% and above would significantly improve hardness.

Highlights

Published: 19 May 2021Over the last few decades, research on dental biomaterials has significantly progressed, leading to notable improvements in the associated material properties and technologies and fundamentally transforming dental materials and restorative practices [1,2]
Conventional heat-polymerized acrylic resin consists of polymethylmethacrylate (PMMA) powder and liquid methyl methacrylate (MMA) monomer
In the current study we found that the incorporation of ZrO2 nanofillers or E-glass fibre within the Polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA)

Summary

Introduction

Published: 19 May 2021Over the last few decades, research on dental biomaterials has significantly progressed, leading to notable improvements in the associated material properties and technologies and fundamentally transforming dental materials and restorative practices [1,2]. The major challenges that dental clinicians traditionally encounter in prosthetics and restorations pertain to the lack of biocompatibility of materials, the difficulty in achieving a natural appearance, and the inability to develop a material that can withstand exposure to the harsh oral environment [1,3,4]. PMMA has been a preferred choice in the production of denture bases since its introduction in 1930s [5,6]. While dental implants are increasingly being used as substitutes for natural teeth in both partially dentate and edentulous patients, PMMA remains the preferred choice for denture base construction [7]. As conventional PMMA denture bases are relatively brittle and weak, they have a propensity for mechanical failure, leading to a high risk of fracture [5,11,13].

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