Mechanical Properties of Denture Base Resins after Exposure to Electron Beam Radiation

Abstract

BACKGROUND The mechanical properties of polymers can be improved by electron beam irradiation. The aim of this study is to evaluate the mechanical properties of denture base resins after irradiation with electron beam with an energy dose of up to 25 KGy. METHODS In this study, four different denture base resins were used namely, DPI, Trevalon, Trevalon HI, and Meliodent heat cure acrylic resins. Mechanical properties of the denture base resins after exposure to electron beam post-curing were studied. The irradiated denture base resins are compared with untreated control groups. RESULTS Our study showed that PMMA-based denture resins improved the mechanical properties after irradiation with electron beam. As the radiation dose increases to 25 KGy, the polymeric structure starts to break down, and CC bonds are split off during electron beam irradiation. CONCLUSIONS Mechanical properties such as flexural strength, impact strength, and hardness of DPI heat cure acrylic resin, Trevalon, Trevalon HI, and Meliodent heat cure acrylic resins can be modified by the lower dosage of electron beam irradiation. Denture base resin is not only used for 'unbreakable' dentures but also to construct of skeletally designed heat cure dentures. This is possibly only with high strength polymers. So, research is continuing for higher strength denture base resin. By comparing the flexural strength and impact strength of all heat cure denture base resins (DPI heat cure acrylic resin, Trevalon, Trevalon HI, and Meliodent heat cure acrylic resins) after irradiation, with flexural strength and impact strength of all heat cure denture base resins before irradiation, it was observed that-irradiated heat cure denture base resins had more impact strength and flexural strength than unirradiated heat cure denture base resins. It was also found that on comparing the hardness of all heat cure denture base resins before and after exposure of radiation, radiated heat cure denture base resins were harder than unirradiated heat cure denture base resins.