Background: The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of fluoridated glass fillers on fluoride release, recharge and the flexural properties of modified polymethylmethacrylate (PMMA). Methods: Specimens of PMMA denture base material with various loading of fluoridated glass fillers (0%, 1%, 2.5%, 5% and 10% by weight) were prepared. Flexural properties were evaluated on rectangular specimens (n = 10) aged in deionized water after 24 hours, 1 and 3 months. Disc specimens (n = 10) were aged for 43 days in deionized water and lactic acid (pH 4.0) and fluoride release was measured at numerous intervals. After ageing, specimens were recharged and fluoride re-release was recorded at 1, 3 and 7 days after recharge. Results: Samples containing 2.5%, 5% and 10% glass fillers showed significantly (p < 0.05) greater levels of fluoride release compared with the control and 1% glass fillers specimens. All experimental specimens exhibited fluoride release in both media. The flexural strength of specimens decreased in proportion to the percentage filler inclusion with the modulus of elasticity values remaining within ISO Standard 1567. Conclusions: The modified PMMA with fluoridated glass fillers has the ability to release and re-release fluoride ion. Flexural strength decreased as glass filler uploading increased.Keywords: Flexural strength, fluoride release, glass fillers, modulus of elasticity, polymethylmethacrylate.Abbreviations and acronyms: ANOVA = analysis of variance; PMMA = polymethylmethacrylate; S-PRG = surface pre-reacted giomer.

Background: The current study objectives were to evaluate the influence of fluoridated glass fillers loading on the surface roughness, wettability, and adherence of candida and bacteria with and without saliva presence to a polymethylmethacrylate (PMMA) denture base material surface. Methods: Four concentrations of fluoridated glass fillers were added to PMMA: 1%, 2.5%, 5% and 10% by weight prepolymerization and 0% was the control. Discs of each concentration were fabricated (n = 5 for each variable). Surface roughness (R a ) was measured using atomic force microscopy (AFM). Wettability was assessed by measuring the contact angle of a sessile drop of water. Specimens were incubated with Candida albicans, or Streptococcus mutans with and without saliva coating. Adherence was presented as a percentage of the colonized surface area, counted using an optical microscope at x100 magnification. Results: The 10% group showed significantly greater roughness than the control and 1% groups; however, no significant differences in contact angle values were detected. The microbial adhesion was inversely proportional to the fluoridated glass fillers concentration where 10% concentration significantly decreased candidal and bacterial adhesion compared to others. Saliva coating significantly decreased microbial adhesion. Conclusions: It was concluded that fluoridated glass fillers could decrease microbial adhesion to acrylic denture base without adversely affecting surface properties.