Purpose: The mechanical strength of polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA) remains far from ideal for maintaining the longevity of denture. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effect of Zirconium oxide (ZrO2) nanofillers powder with different concentration (1.5%, 3%, 5% and 7%) on the flexural strength, fracture toughness, and hardness of heat-polymerized acrylic resin. Materials and methods: Zirconium oxide powders with different concentrations (1.5%, 3%, 5% and 7%) were incorporated into heat-cure acrylic resin (PMMA) and processed with optimal condition (2.5:1 Powder/monomer ratio, conventional packing method and water bath curing for 2 hours at 95˚C) to fabricate test specimens of PMMA of dimensions (50 × 30 × 30 mm) for the flexural strength, fracture toughness, and (50 × 30 × 30 mm) were fabricated for measuring hardness. PMMA without additives was prepared as a test control. Three types of mechanical tests; flexural strength, fracture toughness and hardness were carried out on the samples. The recorded values of flexural strength in (MPa), fracture toughness in (MPa.m 1/2 ), and hardness (VHN) were collected, tabulated and statistically analyzed. One way analysis of variance (ANOVA) and Tukey's tests were used for testing the significance between the means of tested groups which are statistically significant when the P value ≤ 0.05. Results: Addition of Zirconium oxide nanofillers to PMMA significantly increased the flexural strength, fracture toughness and hardness. Conclusion: These results indicate that Zirconium oxide nanofillers added to PMMA has a potential as a reliable denture base material with increased flexural strength, fracture toughness, and hardness. According to the results of the present study, the best mechanical properties were achieved by adding 7%wt ZrO2 concentration. M. A. Ahmed, M. I. Ebrahim 51

The aim of this study is to clarify the effect of different concentrations of titanium dioxide nanoparticles (Nps) on the properties of two types of heat polymerized acrylic resin. The tested parameters were flexural strength, impact strength, and microhardness. The two types of acrylic resin used in this study were conventional unmodified (Implacryl, Vertex) and high impact heat polymerized acrylic resin (Vertex-Dental, Netherlands). Both types of acrylic resin were modified by using 1% and 5% TiO2 Nps powder. Specimen's dimensions were prepared according to the American Dental Association Specification No. 12. Three types of specimens were prepared: 1) flexural strength specimens 50 mm × 10 (±0.2) mm × 3 (±0.2) mm, 2) impact strength test specimens 60 mm × 6.0 mm × 4.0 mm, 3) microhardnesss specimens 25 mm × 10 mm × 3 (±0.2) mm. For each test 6 groups were prepared (each group containing 5 samples). Thirty specimens were prepared in each of the three tests, amounting to a total number of 90 specimens. Mechanical properties such as flexural strength (FS), impact strength and microhardness of the above mentioned specimens were determined using universal testing machine, Izod pendulum impact testing machine and Vickers microhardness tester, respectively. ISO Specification No. 1567 was followed in microhardness test. The data was collected and statistically analyzed. Flexural strength considerably decreased by increasing TiO2 concentration in both types of acrylic resin. Impact strength of the conventional acrylic resin modified by 1% of additives significantly increased. The microhardness is significantly increased by addition of 5% of TiO2 Nps. The Incorporation of TiO2 nanoparticles into acrylic resins can adversely affect its flexural strength. Meanwhile, the impact

Adhesive layer is an essential part of tooth colored restorations which play an important role in decreasing the microleakage between the tooth and restoration material after polymerization shrinkage. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effect of deferent adhesive system of bonding agent on microleakage of nanocomposite resin in class II cavities. Two different types of adhesive systems: universal adhesive (ExciTE) and a newly developed adhesive (Nano-Bond) and one type of light-cured resin restorative material (nanocomposite resin) were used in this study. These adhesives were applied to prepared tooth cavities by either manufactures' instructions or by an experimental method (single or double application). Nanocomposite resin was then placed and light-cured for 40 seconds. Teeth were subjected to 500 thermal cycles between 5°C and 55°C and were immersed in 3% methylene blue solution for 24 hours; microleakage was observed microscopically. The data were analyzed by a two-way ANOVA. For comparison between groups, Tukey's post-hoc test was used. Nanoparticles reinforced adhesive system shows low microleakage in compare with universal adhesive system, and application of two adhesive layers also can decrease the microleakage. The ability of stress absorption by adhesive layer after polymerization shrinkage of restoration material will reduce the microleakage.