A comparison of acrylic and multilithic teeth bond strengths to acrylic denture base material

Debonding of denture teeth from the denture base can be frustrating for both the clinician as well as his or her patients. The wear resistance of composite denture teeth has been well investigated since their introduction, but there have been few studies about the bonding of these teeth to acrylic denture base resins. The aim of this study was to compare the bond strengths of two brands of acrylic and one brand of multilithic denture teeth to acrylic denture base material.

In this experimental-laboratory study, three types of denture teeth--Yaghoot, Super Brilian, and Major--were used. After grinding the glossy ridge lap surfaces, the teeth were mounted on two sides of triangular-shaped wax models. Then the wax elimination and resin processing laboratory procedures were carried out as is done with the fabrication of a complete denture. Each of the specimens was tested using a universal testing machine with a cross head speed of 5 mm/min at an angle of 130 degrees to the long axis of the teeth. The data were analyzed using one-way ANOVA and Chi-square tests.

The mean bond strength in the Yaghoot group was 717.43+/-293.59 N while in the Super Brilian group it was 578.40+/-395.38 and in the Major group, 547.95+/-296.75N. However, there was no significant difference between the three groups (p=0.194).

Although the mean bond strength in the multilithic group was higher than in the other groups, no significant difference was found between the three groups. There was no significant difference between the three groups with regard to the prevalence and type of fracture site.

The bonding strength of multilithic denture teeth to denture base resins was found to be comparable to, and even slightly higher than, acrylic conventional denture teeth, making them a promising choice for clinicians in the fabrication of removable dentures.