Adaptation of acrylic dentures reinforced with metal wire

The aim of this study was to reveal the effect of metal wire on the adaptation of the denture reinforced with it. Forty maxillary dentures were made with two polymerization systems (DS system and SR-Ivocap system). The dentures were divided into two groups: (1) the unreinforced dentures (control) and (2) the dentures reinforced with metal wire 1.0 mm in diameter. Discrepancies between the denture base and the stone cast were measured at five points immediately after polymerization and after a 30-day immersion in water. The data were analysed using a two-way or one-way ANOVA test. Dentures reinforced with metal wire exhibited significantly lower adaptation to the stone cast than the unreinforced ones for each polymerization system. Immersion in water did not affect the adaptation of dentures reinforced with metal wire for each polymerization. Unreinforced dentures made by the DS system had significantly smaller discrepancies compared with the dentures processed with the SR-Ivocap system. The adaptation of the dentures reinforced with metal wire decreased in comparison with the unreinforced ones regardless of the polymerization method. This should be considered when metal wire is used clinically as reinforcement.