Effect of net fiber reinforcement surface treatment on soft denture liner retention and longevity

To evaluate shear bond strength of Molloplast-B soft liner attached to different acrylic surfaces (smooth, rough, and Sticktech net fiber-reinforced interfaces) after 3000 thermal cycles.

Sixty-nine specimens were fabricated by attaching Molloplast-B soft liner to acrylic bases of three interfaces (n= 23); smooth (Group 1, control), rough (Group 2), and Sticktech net fiber-reinforced interface (Group 3). The specimens underwent 3000 thermocycles (5 and 55 degrees C) before being subject to a shear bond test at 2 mm/min crosshead speed. Debonding sites were investigated using an optical microscope at 40x magnification. Bond failures were categorized as adhesive, cohesive, or mixed.

Mean (SD) bond strength values (MPa) were: 0.71 (0.15); 0.63 (0.07); and 0.83 (0.12) for smooth, rough, and fiber-reinforced acrylic interfaces, respectively. The mean values were analyzed using one-way ANOVA and Bonferroni post hoc test for pairwise comparisons (p< or = 0.05). The net fiber-reinforced acrylic interface exhibited a statistically significantly higher bond strength value when compared to smooth and rough acrylic interfaces (P= 0.003 and P= 0.000, respectively). Modes of failure were mainly cohesive (91%), followed by mixed failures (9%).

Molloplast-B exhibited a stronger bond to StickTech Net fiber-reinforced surfaces when compared to smooth and rough acrylic interfaces after thermocycling. This may enhance prosthesis serviceability during clinical use.