Evaluation and comparison of different polymerization techniques, curing cycles, and thicknesses of two denture base materials

Abstract

Purpose: The study aimed to compare the effect of different materials, thicknesses, and polymerization methods and cycles, on the surface porosity of acrylic denture base resins. Materials and Methods: Conventional heat-polymerized polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA) and specially designed acrylic resin (Acron MC) were used to make 84 rectangular samples. They were divided into three groups to evaluate and compare the polymerization techniques, curing cycles, and thicknesses of the two denture base materials (28 samples each). Group A contained PMMA samples polymerized using water bath method (control group); Group B contained Acron MC samples polymerized by microwave method, and Group C contained PMMA samples polymerized by microwave method. Each group was further divided based on sample thickness and polymerization cycles. Each sample was scanned for surface porosity and area of each pore was measured using optical microscope. Data was analyzed using ANOVA, Bonferroni, and student t-tests. Unpaired student t-test was performed to compare the means of surface porosity with polymerization cycles and thicknesses among the groups. The power of study was kept at 80%. Results: Group C showed highest mean % of porosity depending on method of polymerization, different polymerization cycles (short and long) and polymerization cycles within the group. Group B showed the highest mean % of porosity depending on thickness and thickness within the groups. Conclusions: Microwavable acrylic resin polymerized by microwave energy exhibited statistically insignificant increase in porosity when compared to conventional heat cured acrylic resin by water bath method. Conventional acrylic resin polymerized by microwave energy exhibited high statistically significant porosity irrespective of sample thickness. There was statistically insignificant increase in porosity depending on sample thickness irrespective of material and method of polymerization.