Effect of some curing methods on acrylic maxillary denture base fit

Area of Science:

• Dentistry
• Biomaterials Science
• Prosthodontics

Background:

• Complete dentures are crucial for edentulous patients.
• The fit of denture bases significantly impacts patient comfort and function.
• Various processing techniques exist for acrylic denture bases, each with potential effects on dimensional accuracy.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate and compare the marginal fit of acrylic maxillary denture bases processed using four distinct methods: microwave, quick-wet-heat, slow-wet-heat, and self-curing.
• To quantify the discrepancy between the denture base and the master cast for each processing technique.
• To identify which processing method yields the most accurate fit for complete maxillary dentures.

Main Methods:

• Forty stone casts of an edentulous maxilla were used.
• Acrylic resin patterns were processed into denture bases using four methods: microwave, quick-wet-heat, slow-wet-heat, and self-curing (10 bases per group).
• Denture base fit was assessed by measuring the discrepancy against the cast using silicone wafers.

Main Results:

• Significant variations in fit discrepancies were observed both within and between the different processing groups.
• The palatal region exhibited a proportionally greater fit-loss compared to the sulcular areas across all tested materials (p < 0.05).
• Microwave-cured denture bases demonstrated a greater degree of fit-loss than those processed by the other methods.

Conclusions:

• The choice of processing technique significantly influences the marginal fit of acrylic maxillary denture bases.
• Microwave curing appears to be associated with greater fit discrepancies, particularly in the palatal region.
• Clinicians must carefully select appropriate denture base materials and processing techniques to ensure optimal fit and function for edentulous patients.