Flexural strength and impact strength of heat-cured acrylic and 3D printed denture base resins- A comparative in vitro study.

OBJECTIVE

The present study aimed to evaluate and compare the flexural strength and impact strength of heat-cured acrylic/Polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA) denture base resin and 3D printed denture base resin.

METHODS

60 rectangular specimens were fabricated from conventional heat-cured acrylic and 3D-printed denture base resins. 15 specimens each of heat-cured acrylic and 3D printed denture base resin were tested for flexural strength and impact strength. The flexural strength was assessed using three point bend test while impact strength was assessed by Izod impact test.

RESULTS

The mean flexural strength of heat-cured acrylic resin was 92.01 ± 12.14 MPa and 3D printed denture base resin was 69.78 ± 7.54 MPa. The mean impact strength of heat-cured acrylic resin was 1.67 ± 0.79 kJ/m and 3D printed denture base resin was 1.15 ± 0.40 kJ/m.The differences in mean impact and flexural strength between heat-cured acrylic and 3D printed denture base resins were statistically significant.

CONCLUSION

Heat-cured acrylic denture base resin (DPI heat-cure) had greater flexural and impact strength than 3D printed denture base resin (Next Dent denture 3D+).