Search

Purpose: The impact strength and the flexural properties of denture base materials are of importance in predicting their clinical performance upon sudden loading. This study compares the impact and transverse strengths and the flexural modulus of three denture base polymers.Materials and Methods: The investigation included a relatively new microwave-polymerized polyurethane-based denture material processed by an injection-molding technique, a conventional microwave-polymerized denture material, and a heat-polymerized compression-molded poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) denture material. Impact strength was determined using a Charpy-type impact tester. The transverse strength and the flexural modulus were assessed with a three-point bending test. The results were subjected to statistical analysis using a one-way analysis of variance and the Scheffé test for comparison.Results: The impact strength of the microwave-polymerized injection-molded polymer was 6.3 kl/m2, while its flexural strength was 66.2 MPa. These values were lower than those shown by the two compression-molded PMMA-based polymers. The differences were statistically significant. The flexural modulus of the new denture material was 2,832 MPa, which was higher than the conventional heat-polymerized polymer but was comparable to the other microwave-polymerized PMMA-based polymer. The difference in the flexural modulus was statistically significant.Conclusion: In terms of the impact and flexural strengths, the new microwave-polymerized, injection-molded, polyurethane-based polymer offered no advantage over the existing heat- and microwave-polymerized PMMA-based denture base polymers. However, it has a rigidity comparable to that of the microwave-polymerized PMMA polymer. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aimed at investigating and establishing stress distributions in graded multilayered zirconia/alumina ceramic cores and at veneer-core-cement-dentin interfaces, using finite element analysis (FEA), to facilitate the structural design of ceramic cores through computer modeling. An intact maxillary premolar was digitized using CT scanning. An imaging software, Mimics, was used to reconstruct 3D models based on computed tomography (CT) data saved in DICOM format. Eight different 3D models were created for FEA, where each 3D model was meshed and its bottom boundaries constrained. A static load was applied in the oblique direction. The materials were assumed to be isotropic and homogeneous. Highest von Mises stress values were found in areas directly below the load application point, and stress gradually decreased in occlusal loading direction from the external surface toward the dentin. Stress levels occurring at veneer-ceramic core-cement-dentin interfaces were shown to be lower in multilayered ceramic cores than in single-layer models. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]