Impact of Surface Treatment with Different Repair Acrylic Resin on the Flexural Strength of Denture Base Resin: An In Vitro Study

AIM AND OBJECTIVE The aim and objective of the present study was to assess the flexural strength of denture base resin based on surface treatment with different acrylic resin repair materials. MATERIALS AND METHODS Totally, 120 heat-polymerized polymethyl methacrylate denture base resin materials which are rectangular shaped with the size of 65 mm × 10 mm × 2.5 mm were fabricated. 150 μm-sized alumina used for surface treatment. All the 120 heat-cured, surface-treated acrylic denture base resin samples were randomly divided into three groups. Group I: glass-fiber-reinforced auto-polymerizing acrylic resin, group II: auto-polymerizing acrylic resin, and group III: light-cured acrylic resin. A universal testing machine was used to test the flexural strength of the repaired specimens. RESULTS A highest mean flexural strength (88.96 ± 0.31) was demonstrated by group I, followed by group II (72.18 ± 1.86) and group III (66.30 ± 1.02). ANOVA demonstrated a statistically significant inter-group difference. On multiple comparisons, using Tukey's post hoc test a statistically significant difference between groups I and II and between groups I and III was found. CONCLUSION After considering the limitations, the present study concluded that the highest flexural strength is shown by glass-fiber-reinforced auto-polymerizing acrylic resin than by auto-polymerizing acrylic resin and light-cured acrylic resin. CLINICAL SIGNIFICANCE Denture repair comprises of joining two fractured parts of a denture with a denture repair material. The success of denture repair depends on the adhesion phenomenon. The treatment of the surface can be accomplished using a suitable material which changes chemically and morphologically and thus promotes better adhesion.