Abstract
The antifungal effect of zirconium dioxide nanoparticles (ZrO2NPs) incorporated into denture base material has been inadequately investigated; additionally, to the authors' knowledge, no studies have assessed the influence of artificial aging on the antifungal activity of these particles. Methodology. Heat-polymerized acrylic resin disks were fabricated and divided into four groups (0%, 1%, 2.5%, and 5% ZrO2NPs by weight). Antifungal activity was assessed using the direct culture and disk diffusion methods. Surface roughness and contact angles were measured using a profilometer and a goniometer, respectively. The artificial aging procedure was performed by repeating all tests at 7, 14, and 30 days following 2 rounds of thermocycling. Data were analyzed using ANOVA and Tukey's post-hoc test (p < 0.05). Results. The addition of ZrO2NPs significantly decreased the adhesion of Candida albicans with and without artificial aging procedures (p < 0.001), while the disk diffusion methods did not reveal inhibition zones. ZrO2NP-modified specimens displayed significantly higher surface roughness compared to specimens in the control group (p < 0.05) and showed the same behaviors with artificial aging procedures. The contact angle was significantly decreased in all modified groups in comparison to the control group (p < 0.05). Conclusion. The addition of ZrO2NPs to polymethylmethacrylate denture base material reduced the adhesion of Candida albicans with a long-term antifungal effect. With the addition of ZrO2NPs, contact angles were decreased and surface roughness was increased; 1% was the most appropriate concentration. Clinical significance. The addition of ZrO2NPs to denture base material confers a long-term antifungal effect and could be used as a possible method for preventing and treating denture stomatitis.
Highlights
Denture-induced stomatitis (DIS) is a widespread disease affecting 65% of denture wearers, with the most affected site being the palatal mucosa [1]
Results of the direct culture method showed that the ZrO2NP-modified groups displayed significant antifungal effects for all tested time intervals compared to the control group (p < 0.001)
No previous studies have investigated the influence of artificial aging on the antifungal activity of heat-polymerized acrylic resin denture bases modified with ZrO2NPs
Summary
Denture-induced stomatitis (DIS) is a widespread disease affecting 65% of denture wearers, with the most affected site being the palatal mucosa [1]. Several factors have been implicated in the development of DIS, including decreased salivary flow, ill-fitting dentures, poor oral hygiene, trauma to the oral mucosa, and microbial infections, primarily fungal infections with Candida albicans (C. albicans) [2]. Many studies have investigated the role of C. albicans, yielding strong evidence that it is the primary fungal source [3, 4]. Denture base material is naturally porous, rendering its surface a favorable medium for the adherence and colonization of C. albicans [5]. Biofilm formation occurs, which decreases cleansing efficacy and increases resistance to antifungal treatment [6]
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