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Enhancing denture retention with bioinspired octopus-like suction cup designs of various shapes and distributions: An
Arwa I Al-Husban1, Eda Dzinovic2, Jose M Rodriguez3
1Doctoral student, Center for Oral, Clinical, and Translational Sciences, Faculty of Dentistry, Oral and Craniofacial Sciences, King's College London, London, England, United Kingdom; and Lecturer, Faculty of Dentistry, The Hashemite University of Jordan, Zarqa, Jordan.
Statement Of Problem:
Current methods of evaluating denture retention lack clinical relevance because of simplified testing conditions and limited design innovation. Bioinspired features such as octopus-like suction cups (SCs) offer a promising solution but remain underinvestigated. A more realistic in vitro model incorporating a peripheral seal (PS), artificial saliva, and these novel designs is needed to better assess and enhance denture retention.
Purpose:
The purpose of this in vitro study was to evaluate the influence of preload forces, PS simulation, and spatially distributed octopus-inspired SC surface modifications on the retention of maxillary complete dentures.
Material And Methods:
The investigation was conducted in 2 phases. In Phase I, 12 3-dimensionally (3D) printed maxillary dentures were divided into 2 groups (n=6) to assess the effect of a simulated PS. Group NO PS (control) lacked a PS, while Group PS incorporated a silicone-based PS created using a printed mold. Retention was measured using a vertical pull-off test under 2 preload forces (4 N and 10 N) with artificial saliva. In Phase II, 50 dentures were assigned to 5 groups (n=10): Smooth (smooth surface), PSC (palatal SCs), Peri-SC (peripheral SCs), Peri-NSC (peripheral negative suction cups), and Adhesive-smooth (smooth surface with adhesive). All dentures were tested using the same PS simulation and preload conditions with triplicate retention measurements. Data were analyzed using 2-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) and Tukey post hoc tests (α=.05).
Results:
Retention significantly increased in the presence of a PS at both preload levels (P<.05). Higher preload forces enhanced retention across all groups. Adhesive-smooth exhibited the greatest retention (P<.001), Peri-NSCs outperformed the Peri-SCs, PSCs, and Smooth dentures.
Conclusions:
The simulated PS method provides a more clinically relevant approach to denture retention testing. Bioinspired SC modifications significantly improved denture retention under varying preload conditions tested using the simulated PS. Peri-NSCs represent a promising design strategy for enhancing the retention and stability of maxillary complete dentures.
