Effect of nanoscale particles incorporation on microhardness of polymers for oral prosthesis

Assessment of effect of accelerated aging on interim fixed dental materials using digital technologies

PURPOSE

This study assessed the physical and mechanical properties of interim crown materials fabricated using various digital techniques after accelerated aging.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Three groups of interim dental restorative materials (N = 20) were tested. The first group (CO) was fabricated using a conventional manual method. The second group (ML) was prepared from prefabricated resin blocks for the milling method and cut into specimen sizes using a cutting disc. The third group (3D) was additively manufactured using a digital light-processing (DLP) 3D printer. Aging acceleration treatments using toothbrushing and thermocycling simulators were applied to half of the specimens corresponding to three years of usage in the oral environment (N = 10). Surface roughness (Ra), Vickers microhardness, 3-point bending, sorption, and solubility tests were performed. A 2-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) and Fisher's multiple comparison test were used to compare the results among the groups.

RESULTS

The mean surface roughness (Ra) of the resin after accelerated aging was significantly higher in the CO and ML groups than that before aging, but not in the 3D group. All groups showed reduced hardness after accelerated aging. The flexural strength values were highest in the 3D group, followed by the ML and CO groups after accelerated aging. Accelerated aging significantly reduced water sorption in the ML group.

CONCLUSION

According to the tested material and 3D printer type, both 3D-printed and milled interim restoration resins showed higher flexural strength and modulus, and lower surface roughness than those prepared by the conventional method after accelerated aging.

Effect of thermocycling on the surface properties of CAD-CAM denture base materials after different surface treatments

PURPOSE

To evaluate the effect of thermocycling on the water contact angle (WCA), surface roughness (SR), and microhardness (MH) of different CAD-CAM PMMA denture base materials after different surface treatments (conventional laboratory polishing, polishing kit, or surface sealant).

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Disk-shaped specimens (10 × 2 mm) of 3 different CAD-CAM PMMAs, AvaDent (AV); Merz M-PM (M-PM); Polident (Poli), and a conventional heat-polymerized PMMA (Vynacron) (CV) (n=21) were divided into 3 different surface treatment groups (n=7): conventional laboratory polishing (CLP), polishing with acrylic resin polisher kit (PK), and a surface sealant (Palaseal) (SSC). Stereomicroscopic images were taken both before and after thermocycling. WCA, SR, and MH of all specimens were measured before and after thermocycling and compared by using a 2-way ANOVA (α=0.05).

RESULTS

After thermocycling, WCA significantly increased for CLP- or PK -applied (P<.001) specimens of all materials and SSC-applied M-PM (P=.002), SR significantly increased for CLP-applied M-PM (P=.027) and PK-applied Poli (P=.041), and MH significantly decreased for CLP- or PK-applied AV (P = .001, P < .001, respectively), CV (P=.033, P=.023, respectively), and M-PM (P=.003, P=.001, respectively), SSC-applied M-PM (P<.001), and CLP-applied Poli (P<.001). Stereomicroscopic images revealed rougher surfaces for PK-applied specimens.

CONCLUSIONS

After thermocycling, surface treatment had a significant effect on water contact angle and surface roughness. CLP or PK application resulted in hydrophobic surfaces compared with before thermocycling. CLP or SSC application on CAD-CAM PMMAs resulted in smoother surfaces. Thermocycling lowered the microhardness of all PMMAs, and the decrease was significant in CLP- or PK-applied PMMAs, except for PK-applied Poli.