Developments in denture teeth to prevent softening by food solvents

Area of Science:

• Materials Science
• Biomaterials Engineering
• Dental Materials

Background:

• Denture teeth are susceptible to degradation from various environmental factors.
• Understanding the impact of food-simulating solvents on denture teeth hardness is crucial for predicting longevity and performance.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the effect of different food-simulating solvents on the Martens hardness of various denture teeth materials.
• To assess the changes in hardness after storage for up to one month in distilled water, peppermint oil, heptane, and 75% ethanol.

Main Methods:

• Martens hardness testing was performed on four commercial and two experimental denture teeth.
• Specimens were stored for one month in distilled water, peppermint oil, heptane, and 75% ethanol.
• Hardness was measured at baseline and after the storage period.

Main Results:

• Baseline hardness varied significantly among materials, with Candulor porcelain (POR) and Experimental 1 (EXP1) being the hardest.
• Storage in 75% ethanol caused a significant decrease in hardness for most polymer-based denture teeth, except for EXP1.
• Storage in distilled water, peppermint oil, and heptane resulted in non-significant hardness fluctuations for all tested materials.

Conclusions:

• Ethanol poses a significant risk to the hardness of most polymer-based denture teeth, potentially affecting their durability.
• The experimental nanocomposite EXP1 demonstrated superior hardness stability across different solvent conditions.
• Water, peppermint oil, and heptane appear to be less detrimental to the hardness of denture teeth materials.