Analysis of the mechanical and physical properties of printed and milled denture base materials

OBJECTIVES: Evaluate the mechanical properties of commercial digital denture base materials. Materials: The materials used were Lucitone 199 denture base disc (Dentsply Sirona), AvaDent denture base puck (AvaDent), KeyMill denture base disc (Keystone), Lucitone digital print denture base resin (Dentsply Sirona), Formlabs denture base resin (Formlabs), and Dentca denture base resin II (Dentca). METHODS: For each material, 60 bar-shaped specimens were prepared for flexural testing, which were divided into 5 groups including control, fatigue, thermocycling, and repairing using 2 types of materials. 24 square-shaped specimens were included in the bond testing, bonded to tooth and composite resin. Additionally, 48 square-shaped specimens were fabricated for the color stability testing, against UV light and staining and washing solutions. The flexural strength and modulus were calculated through 3-point bend test. Bond strength was determined using shear bond test. Color coordinates were recorded in the CIE L*a*b* system using an X-Rite Ci7600 spectrophotometer. Color differences relative to the baseline (∆E^*) were obtained. Data were analyzed using one-way ANOVA followed by Tukey’s HSD test (α=0.05). RESULTS: Milled materials showed higher flexural strength than printed materials. Fatigue and thermocycling led to a decrease in the flexural strength of both group materials. Repaired groups showed flexural strength of about 30.67% and 32.80% of its original strength, in milled and printed materials respectively. However, the flexural strength of the printed materials was affected by the type of the repair material, composite resin gave higher values compared with acrylic. Printed materials exhibited superior bond strength to tooth and composite resin than milled materials. The color change under UV light was clinically acceptable. The color change after immersion in staining and washing solutions in milled groups was less noticeable than in the printed group. Thermocycling treatment made the color change more noticeable in both milled and printed groups. CONCLUSION: Milled denture materials exhibited higher flexural properties than printed denture materials. Printed materials exhibited higher shear bond to tooth and composite resin. The color stability of milled materials with staining and washing solutions treatment was better than the printed groups, whereas the color stability of milled and printed materials exposed to UV light was clinically acceptable.2023-08-03T00:00:00