A Comparison of the Surface and Mechanical Properties of 3D Printable Denture-Base Resin Material and Conventional Polymethylmethacrylate (PMMA)

Purpose To study the surface and mechanical properties of 3D printed denture-base resin materials and compare them with conventional heat-cured polymethylmethacrylate (PMMA). Materials and methods Three brands of 3D printed denture-base resin materials and one conventional heat-cured PMMA were tested in this study: NextDent 3D printed resin, Dentona 3D printed resin, ASIGA 3D printed resin, and Meliodent conventional PMMA. Sixty specimens (25 x 25 x 3 mm) were fabricated (n=15 per group) to perform the following tests: wettability, surface roughness, and microhardness. One hundred twenty specimens (65 x 10 x 3 mm) were fabricated (n=30 per group) and stored in distilled water at (37 +/- 1 degrees C) for 7 days. Specimens (N = 15) in each group were subjected to the three-point bending test and impact strength test, employing the Charpy configuration on un-notched specimens. The morphology of the fractured specimens was studied under scanning electron microscope (SEM). Statistical analysis was performed using one-way ANOVA and Tukey-pairwise multiple comparisons with 95% confidence interval. P-values of <= 0.05 were considered significant. Results The conventional heat-cured specimens demonstrated the highest means of surface roughness (0.23 +/- 0.07 mu m), Vickers hardness number (18.11 +/- 0.65) and flexural strength (92.44 +/- 7.91 MPa), and the lowest mean of contact angle (66.71 degrees +/- 3.38 degrees). ASIGA group showed the highest mean of contact angle (73.44 degrees +/- 2.74 degrees) and the lowest mean of surface roughness (0.19 +/- 0.03 mu m). The highest mean of impact strength was recorded in the Dentona group (17.98 +/- 1.76 kg/m(2)). NextDent specimens showed the lowest means of Vickers hardness number (16.20 +/- 0.93), flexural strength (74.89 +/- 8.44 MPa), impact strength (15.20 +/- 0.69 kg/m(2)), and recorded the highest mean of bending modulus (2,115.80 +/- 178.95 MPa). Conclusions 3D printed resin exhibited noticeable differences in surface and mechanical properties between different brands and with conventional heat-polymerized PMMA.

Automated summary

This study found significant differences in surface and mechanical properties between different brands of 3D printed resin and conventional heat-polymerized PMMA.