Color and flexural properties of nanoparticles-modified denture base resin: An in vitro comparative study

Reinforcement of polymethylmethacrylate (PMMA) denture base resins (DBRs) with inorganic fillers with superior properties and accepted aesthetics are favored and still a big dilemma. This study was undertaken to evaluate the color change, flexural strength, and modulus of elasticity of heat-polymerized DBR material modified with silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) and zirconium dioxide nanoparticles (ZNPs).

Sixty acrylic specimens (30/color test, 30/flexural properties) were fabricated and divided according to nanoparticles type and addition into 3 groups (n = 10). Group-I; unmodified specimens, Group-II; modified specimens with 0.5wt% AgNPs (PMMA/AgNPs), and Group-III; modified specimens with 7.5wt% ZNPs (PMMA/ZNPs). Disc-shape (20 × 3 mm) and bar-shape (65 × 10 × 2.5 mm) specimens were fabricated for color and flexural properties, respectively. The spectrophotometer was used for evaluation of the color change (∆E). The flexural strength and elastic modulus evaluation was carried out using a 3-point bending test (5 mm/min). Tukey's post hoc and one-way ANOVA were used to analyze the data at a significant level P ≤ 0.05.

PMMA/AgNPs group exhibited a significant increase in color change when compared with PMMA/ZNPs. PMMA/ZNPs showed significantly the highest flexural strength value when compared with unmodified and PMMA/AgNPs groups (P < 0.001), however, there was an absence of significant differences in terms of flexural strength values between PMMA/AgNPs and unmodified groups (P > 0.05). PMMA/AgNPs insignificantly increased its modulus of elasticity strength (P = 0.09410) while PMMA/ZNPs significantly increased its modulus of elasticity strength (P = 0.00396).

The AgNPs and ZNPs addition to PMMA increased the color change and AgNPs change the color of DBRs. The flexural attributes of DBRs have been increased by ZNPs.