DENTURE BASE MATERIAL

Dr Ajitha Suresh kumar MDS PGCE

INTRODUCTION

All through the history of the making of dentures,we find a constant

struggle of the dentist to find a suitable denture base material
 Definition : According to GPT - IX,
 Denture Base is defined as the part of Denture that rests on the foundation
tissue and to which teeth are attached.
 Denture Base Material is any substance of which denture base may be
made
HISTORY
 Skillfully designed dentures were made as early as 700
BC.and

 Talmud a collection of books of Hebrews in 352-407 AD

mentioned that teeth were made of gold ,silver, and wood.

 Egypt was the medical center of ancient world, the first

dental prosthesis is believed to have been constructed in
Egypt about 2500 BC.

Hesi-Re Egyptian dentist of about

3000 BC
ront and back views of mandibular fixed bridge, four natural incisor teeth and two carved ivory teeth
ound With gold wire found in Sidon-ancient Phoenicia about fifth and fourth century BC.
 During medieval times dentures were seldom considered ,when
installed they were hand carved and and tied in place with silk
threads.

 Those wearing full denture had to remove them before eating.

 Upper and lower teeth fit poorly and were held together by steel
springs.

 Earlier pictures of dental prosthesis are delivered to us by ABUL-

CASIM an Arab born in Cordova Spain.

Persian dentist of late eighteen Indian surgeon of mid nineteenth century

century
WOOD

 For years, dentures were fashioned from wood .

 Wood was chosen

-readily available
-relatively inexpensive
-can be carved to desired shape

 Disadvantages
-warped and cracked in moisture
-esthetic and hygienic challenges
-degradation in oral environment
Wooden denture believed to be carved out of box wood in 1538 by Nakoka Tei a Buddist priestess

Wooden dentures
Bone

 Bone was chosen due to its availability, reasonable cost and

carvability .

 It is reported that Fauchard fabricated dentures by measuring

individual arches with a compass and cutting bone to fit the arches .

 It had better dimensional stability than wood, esthetic and hygienic

concerns remained.
IVORY
 Denture bases and prosthetic teeth were fashioned by carving this material
to desired shape
 Ivory was not available readily and was relatively expensive.
 Denture bases fashioned from ivory were relatively stable in the oral
environment
 They offered esthetic and hygienic advantage in comparison with denture
bases carved from wood or bone.

Carved ivory upper denture retained in the mouth by springs with natural human teeth cut off at the
Neck and riveted at the base.
 Since ancient times the most
common material for false teeth
were animal bone or
ivory,especially from elephants or
hippopotomus.

 Human teeth were also

used,pulled from the deceased or
sold by poor people from their own
mouths.

 Waterloo dentures

G.Fonzi an italian dentist in Paris invented the

Porcelain teeth that revolutionized the construction
Of dentures.Picture shows partial denture of about
1830,porcelain teeth of fonzi’s design have been
 1788 A.D. Improvement and
Soldered to a gold backing.
development of porcelain dentures by
DeChemant.
CERAMICS
 Porcelain denture bases were relatively expensive
 During subsequent years secrets of porcelain denture became
known and it became common and inexpensive.
 ADVANTAGES over wood, bone , ivory were
-Could be shaped using additive technique rather than
subtractive (carving).
-Additive technique facilitated correction of denture base surface.
-this permitted more intimate contact with underlying soft tissues.
-Could be tinted to simulate the colors of teeth and oral soft
tissues.
-stable in oral environment.
-Minimal water sorption, porosity, and solubility.
-Smooth surface provided hygienic properties.
 Among the drawbacks BRITTLENESS was most significant,
fractures were common, often irreparable.
One piece porcelain upper denture crafted by Dr John
Scarborough,Lambertville,New Jersey 1868.
 In 1794 John Greenwood began to swage gold bases for dentures. Made
George Washington's dentures.

George washington’s last dental prosthesis. The palate was swaged from a sheet of gold and ivory teeth riveted
To it.The lower denture consists of a single carved block of ivory. The two dentures were held togther by steel
Springs.
 In 1839 an important development took place CHARLES GOODYEAR
discovered VULCANIZATION of natural rubber with sulphur(30%) and was
patented by Hancock in england in 1843.

 NELSON GOODYEAR (brother of charles goodyear) got the patent for

vulcanite dentures in 1864.

 . They proceeded to license dentists who used their material, and charged a royalty
for all dentures made. Dentists who would not comply were sued.

 The Goodyear patents expired in 1881, and the company did not again seek to
license dentists or dental products.

 Vulcanite dentures were very popular until the 1940s, when acrylic denture bases
replaced them.
A set of vulcanite dentures worn by Gen. John J.
(Blackjack) Pershing, commander of the American
Expeditionary Forces in France during the First World
War

Set of complete dentures having palate of swaged

Gold and porcelain teeth set in vulcanite.
 In 1868 John Hyatt, A US Printer,
discovered the first plastic molding
compound, called celluloid. He
made it by dissolving nitrocellulose
under pressure

 In 1909, another promising

organic compound was found.
This was phenol formaldehyde
resin discovered by Dr. Leo
Backeland .
Celluloid upper denture 1880,celluloid as a
Substitute for vulcanite was unsuccessful as
It absorbs stains and odors in the mouth,
Gradually turns black and was flammable.
 In 1937 Dr. Walter Wright gave dentistry its very useful resin.

 It was polymethyl methacrylate which proved to be much

satisfactory material tested until now.

Dentures made of polymethyl methacrylate

Disadvantages of different denture base
 1. Vulcanite :
In 1839 Vulcanized rubber was discovered and
introduced as a Vulcanite and Ebonite.
For the next 75 years Vulcanite rubber was the principal
Denture base Material. But failed because of following
reasons :

Disadvantages
 It absorbs Saliva and becomes unhygienic due to
bacterial proliferation.
 Esthetics were poor.
 Dimensionally unstable.
 Objectionable taste and odor
2. Celluloid
Although it was having tissue like color but
having principal disadvantages like

Disadvantages
 Lack of stability
 Unpleasant taste
 Unpleasant odor
 Stainability
 Flammable
3. Bakelite
It was formed by heating and compressing a
mixture of phenol and formaldehyde.

Disadvantages
 Lack of uniform quality
 Variable strength
 Variable color
 Dimensional unstability.
POLYMERS
 Natural polymers include:

 Proteins (polyamides or polypeptides) containing the chemical

group (-Co-NH-); this is known as an amide or peptide link.

 Polyesoprenes such as rubber and gutta percha.

 Polysaccharides, such as starch, cellulose, agar and alginates.

 Polynucleic acids, such as deoxyribonuclei acids (DNA) and

ribonucleic acids (RNA).

 Synthetic polymers are produced industrially or in the laboratory, by

chemical reaction.

Synthetic polymer : Defined as a non metallic compound

synthetically produced (usually from organic compounds) which can
be molded into various useful forms and then hardened for use.
DEFINITION: A polymer is a long chain organic molecule .It is produced by the
reaction of many smaller molecules called monomers,or mers.

 If reaction occurs between two different but compatible monomers the

polymeric product is called a COPOLYMER.

 Resin : A broad term used to describe natural or synthetic substances that

form plastic materials after polymerization (GPT-7th edition).

USES IN DENTISTRY
 Denture bases and artificial teeth.
 Denture liners and tissue conditioners.
 composite restorative and pit and fissure sealent.
 Impression materials
 Custoum trays for impression
 Temporary restoratives.
 Mouthguards.
 Maxillofacial prosthesis.
 Space maintainers.
 Veneers.
 Cements and adhesives.
CHEMISTRY OF POLYMERIZATION
 Monomers react to form polymer by a chemical reaction called
polymerization.
 The most common polymerization reaction for polymers used in dentistry is
addition polymerization.

ADDITION POLYMERIZATION
 INDUCTION
 PROPOGATION
 CHAIN TRANSFER
 TERMINATION

INDUCTION
1)ACTIVATION
2)INITIATION
ACTIVATION Free radicals can be generated by activation of radical producing molecule
using.
 Second chemical
 Heat
 Visible light
 Ultraviolet light
 Energy transfer from another compound that acts as a free radical.
 Commonly employed initiator is Benzoyl peroxide which is activated
rapidly between 50 degree and 100 degree C to release two free radicals
per benzoyl peroxide molecule.

 Second type is chemically activated ,consists of two reactants when mixed

undergo reaction eg tertiary amine (the activator) and benzoyl peroxide (the
initiator). Amine forms a complex with benzoyl peroxide which reduces the
thermal energy (and thus the temperature) needed to split it into free radicals.

 Third type is light activated .The visible light light cured dental
restoratives,camphorquinone and an organic amine
(dimethylaminoethylmethacrylate) generate free radicals when irradiated by
light in the blue to violet region.

 Light with a wavelength of about 470nm is needed to trigger this reaction.

INITIATION
PROPOGATION
The resulting free radical monomer complex acts as a new free radical center
which is approached by another monomer to form a dimer, which also becomes
a free radical.
CHAIN TRANSFER
 The active free radical of a growing chain is transferred to another molecule
(eg monomer or inactivated polymer chain) and a new free radical for further
growth is created termination occurs in the latter.
TERMINATION
 Can occur from chain transfer.
 Addition polymerization reaction is terminated by
-Direct coupling of two free radical chains ends
-Exchange of hydrogen atom from one growing chain to another.
INHIBITION OF ADDITION REACTION

 Addition of small amount of Hydroquinone to the monomer inhibits

spontaneous polymerization if no initiator is present and retards the
polymerization in the presence of an initiator.

 Amount added is 0.006% or less

 Methyl ether of hydroquinone is generally present.

COPOLYMERIZATION
 When two or more chemically different monomers each with desirable
properties can be combined to yield specific physical property of a
polymer .eg small amount of ethyl acrylate may be co-polymerized with
methyl methacrylate to alter the flexibility and fracture resistance of a
denture.
METHYL METHACRYLATE
 The acrylic resins are derivative of ethylene and contains a vinyl group
(-c=c-)
 Polyacids tends to imbibe water, due to polarity related to carboxyl group.
 Water tends to separate the chain and cause softening and loss of strength.
 Methyl methacrylate is a transparent liquid at room temp.
 Physical properties
-Molecular wt=100
-Melting point=-48 C
-Boiling point=100 C
-Density=0.945g/ml at 20 C
-Heat of polymerization=12.9 Kcal/mol

Methyl methacrylate
molecule
POLYMETHYL METHACRYLATE
 Transparent resin, transmits light in uv range to a wavelength of 250
nm.
it has got remarkable clarity.
 Hard resin ,knoop hardness no of 18 to 20.
 Tensile strength is 60 MPa
 Density is 1.19 g/cm cube.
 Modulus of elasticity 2.4 GPa(2400 MPa)
 It is chemically stable and softens at 1250C
 It can be molded as a thermoplastic material between 125 and 200
C
 Depolarization takes place at approx 450 C .
 Absorbs water by imbibition
 Non crystalline structure possess high internal energy.
 Polar carboxyl group can form hydrogen bridge to a limited extent
with water.
REQUISITES FOR DENTAL RESINS

(I)BIOLOGICAL COMPATIBILITY
 Tasteless
 Odorless
 Nontoxic, non-irritating
 Insoluble in saliva or any other fluids taken into the mouth.
 Impermeable to oral fluids.

MONOMER TOXICITY
A review of clinical studies and patients reports on reaction to acrylic resin
dental prosthesis by William M. Goebel in Feb 1980 have shown the
following facts
 Fischer patch tested groups of patients with heat cured and
autopolymerizing acrylic resin disks, monomer, powdered polymer, and
patients own acrylic resin prosthesis. From the results he concluded that
methyl methacrylate monomer is a sensitizer which can cause an allergic
contact eczematous reaction on skin and oral mucoa
He also concluded when completely polymerized it is no longer a sensitizer
Or elicitor of allergic reaction.
 Crissey also concluded that stomatitis venenata is a possible but
uncommon result of monomer allergy.
 Danielewicz- A. stysiak found similar results leading to conclusion that
denture sore mouth caused by hypersensitivity is possible but rare.

 Axelsson and Nyquist performed a longitudinal study to determine the

biological effect of the leaching of monomer on the oral mucosa.
Deliberately under cured dentures were followed for up to 3 years . Clinical
examination revealed what was determined to be hyperkeratosis during
the first week with no signs of inflammation,it resolved by end of one month
Investigations concluded that results did not
substantiate the opinion that residual monomer plays an essential role in
denture sore mouth.

 Spealman and associates performed cutaneous sensitization tests for

monomer on 50 medical students, one third developed mild erythema at the
site of contact due to local irritation, when tested 10 days later evidence of
allergic sensitivity was obtained in 20% of the subjects. This demonstrated
that monomer can be both a local irritant and an allergic sensitizer.
CURING CYLES EMPLOYED IN THE STUDY
A Recommended curing cycles
overnight water-bath cures:
1) 7hr at 70 C
2) 14hr at 70 C
3) 7hr at 70 C +1hr at 100C
4) 14hr at 70C + 1hr at 100C
Short and reverse cures:
5) Boil water,insert flask , remove heat for 20 min return to boil for 10 min.
6) Boil water ,insert flask ,return to boil, boil for 10 min.
Dry heat cure:
7)temp in excess of 100C using dry heat system
B Short curing cycles
8) 7hr at 60C
9) 7hr at 60C +1 hr at 90C
10) Boil water, insert flask remove heat for 20 min return to 90 C hold at 90C for 5
min
11) Boil water insert flask return to 90C hold at 90C for 5min.
1A curing cycle of 7hr at 70C followed by a terminal boil at
1hr at 100C is the optimum curing cycle resulting in max
monomer conversion.

2 Short cut curing cycles are undesirable and result in

significantly raised levels of residual monomer.

3 The residual monomer levels of 23 available denture

base polymers cured using the optimum cycle ranged
from 0.54 to 1.08%.
(II)PHYSICAL PROPERTIES
 Should possess adequate strength and resiliency and resistance to
biting and chewing forces impact forces and excessive wear in oral
cavity.
 Should be dimensionally stable under all conditions of service including
thermal changes and variations in loading.

I) Specific gravity: It should have low value of specific gravity in order that
dentures should be as light as possible.

II) Thermal conductivity: It is defined as the number of calories per second

flowing through an area of 1cm2 in which the temperature drop along
the length of the specimen is 1°C/cm.

 It should have high value of thermal conductivity

 Radiopacity: It is the inhibition of passage of radiant energy.

 It should be ideally radiopaque
 Glass transition temperature:
 It is the temperature at which molecular motions become such that
whole chains are able to move. It is close to softening temperature.
At this temperature sudden change in elastic modulus occurs.
 Amorphous polymer below Tg behave as rigid solids while above Tg
they behave as viscous liquids, flexible solids or rubbers.
 Increased chain branching  Decreased Tg.
Increased number of cross links  Increased Tg

Effect of molecular weight on properties

In many polymers the chains are held together by secondary, or
Vander Waals forces and molecular entanglement. Materials of high
molecular weight have a greater degree of molecular entanglement, and
have greater rigidity and strength and higher values of Tg and melting
temperature than low molecular weight polymers.
Effect of plasticizers
 Plasticizers penetrate between the randomly oriented chains of
polymer as a result of which molecules are further apart and forces
between them are less. They soften the material and make it more
flexible by lowering its Tg. They lubricate the movements of polymer
chains and are sometimes added to help molding characteristics.
This principle is used in producing acrylic soft lining materials .
 Effect of fillers
 Modulus of elasticity and strength are generally increased.
 A degree of anisotrophy exist, that is the strength depends on the
orientation of fibres in the polymers.

 Viscoelasticity : Polymers show viscoelastic behaviour. Elastic

behaviour is caused by uncoiling of polymer molecules. Plastic
behaviour is caused by breaking of intermolecular Vander Waals
forces
(III) MANIPULATION
 Should not produce toxic fumes or dust
 Easy to mix, insert, shape and cure and short setting time
 Oxygen inhibition, saliva and blood contamination should have little or no
effect.
 Final product should be easy to polish and easy to repair in case of
breakage.

(IV) AESTHETIC PROPERTIES

 Should be translucent to match oral tissues
 Capable of pigmentation
 No change in color after fabrication.

(v)ECONOMIC CONSIDERATION
 Cost should be low
 Processing should not require complex and expensive instruments.
(VI) CHEMICAL STABILITY
 Conditions in mouth are demanding and only the most chemically stable
and inert materials can withstand such conditions without deterioration.

“No resin has yet met all of these ideal criteria”. Methacrylate
polymers fulfill the aforementioned requirement reasonably
well.
Denture base resin-types

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TYPES OF DENTURE BASE POLYMERS
1)CONVENTIONAL HEAT CURED POLYMETHYL METHACRYLATE

 Supplied as powder and liquid

POWDER

 Polymer of PMMA in the form of spheres or beads.

 Benzoyl peroxide is attached to it (initiator) 0.5%

 Plasticizer is incorporated (methacrylate or acrylate monomer).

 Coloring pigments cadmium/ organic dyes/ iron are added for

esthetics.
POLYMER POWDER OF ACRYLIC DENTURE BASE MATERIAL
LIQUID
 Methyl methacrylate monomer
 Cross linking agent Ethylene glycol dimethacrylate(5-15%).they are added
to avoid crack or craze produced by stresses during drying.
 Inhibitor Hydroquinone (trace) to avoid premature polymerization and
enhance shelf life.
 When MMA polymerizes it shrinks 21% by volume.
 Using a 3:1 powder liquid ratio it could be minimized to 6%.
 A correctly heat processed denture base could have as little as 0.3% to 2%
residual monomer.
 As a rule,heat activated denture base are shaped via compression
molding technique.
Polymer monomer interaction
When polymer and monomer are mixed it passes through following stages
 Sandy
 Stringy
 Dough like
 Rubbery or elastic
 Stiff
Dough forming time
 According to ANSI/ADA specification no 12 for denture base resins requires
that this consistency be reached in less than 40 min from start of mixing
time.
 In clinical use it is achieved in less than 10 min.
Working time
 Time that a denture base remains in a dough like stage.ANSI/ADA
specification no 12 requires the dough to remain moldable for 5 min.
Heat cured acrylic resin
 Powder ( can have limitless life)
 Beads or granules of polymethyl methacrylate
 Initiator (benzoyl peroxide)
 Pigments/dyes (colour vitality as cadmium, iron, organic dyes)
 Optical opacifiers (tio2/zno)
 Plasticizers (ethyl acrylate (internal), dibutylphthalate (external) to
make dough easier)
 Synthetic fibres (nylon)
 Coloured fibres (blood vessels)

 Liquid ( in dark bottle, avoid contamination by

powder)
 Methyl methacrylate monomer
 Inhibitor (hydroquinone)
 Crosslinking agent
 (diethylene glycol dimethacrylate, (1,4 butylene glycol dimethacrylate)

48
2)AUTOPOLYMERIZING/COLD CURE POLYMETHYL
METHACRYLATE (POUR RESIN)
 Composition same as the heat cure version with following
differences
1)The powder contains beads of polymer that have a lower molecular
wt. and benzoyl proxide (initiator)
2) The liquid contains a chemical activator ,tertiary amine such as
dimethyl-para-toluidine.
 Upon mixing tertiary amine causes decomposition of benzoyl
peroxide.
 Dentures processed have more residual monomer (1-4%),but lower
dimensional change.
 Decreased transverse strength (residual monomer act as
plastisizer).
 Compromised biocompatibility (residual monomer)
 Color stability inferior (teriaty amine susceptible to oxidation),
stabilizing agents should be added
 Fluid resin and compression molding technique can be employed for the
fabrication of denture.
 Also used as repair material
3)HIGH IMPACT RESISTANT ACRYLIC
 Similar to heat cured material but less likely to be broken if dropped.
 Produced by substituting the PMMA in the powder with a copolymer.
 Copolymer of butadiene with styrene or methyl methacrylate are
incorporated into the beads.
 Phase inversion resulting in dispersion throughout the beads of tiny islands
of rubber containing small inclusions of rubber/PMMA graft polymer.

Electron micrograph of high impact denture

Base showing size and shape of polystyrene-butadiene
Rubber inversion phase.
4) Injection molded polymers
 These are made of Nylon or Polycarbonate.
 The material is supplied as a gel in the form of a putty .
 It has to be heated and injected into a mold
 Equipment is expensive.
 Craze resistance is low .

The SR-Ivocap system uses specialized flasks and clamping presses

to keep the molds under a constant pressure of 3000 lbs
5) RAPID HEAT POLYMERIZED POLYMER

 Same as conventional material except that they contain altered

initiation system.

 These initiator allow them to be processed in boiling water for 20

min.

 A problem with these is that areas of the base thicker than

approx.6mm have a high level of porosity.

 Short duration of heating also leaves a higher level of residual

monomer,3-7 times greater than conventional heat cured denture
base.
6) MICROWAVE POLYMERIZED POLYMERS
 Resins are the same as used with conventional material and are processed
in a microwave.
 Denture base cures well in Special polycarbonate flask (instead of metal).
 The properties and the accuracy of these materials have been shown to be
as good or better than those of the conventional heat cured material.
 Processing time is much shorter (4-5 min).

Microwave resin and non metallic microwave flask

7)Light activated denture base resins
 This material is a composite having a matrix of urethane dimethacrylate,
microfine silica and high molecular wt acrylic resin monomers
 Acrylic resin beads are included as organic fillers.
 Visible light is the activator, whereas camphorquinone serves as the initiator
for polymerization.
 Can be used as repair material and as custom tray material.
 Single component denture base is supplied as sheet and rope form in light
proof pouches.

Light curing unit for polymerizing

Dimethacrylate
8) FIBER –REINFORCED POLYMER

 Glass, carbon/graphite, aramid and ultrahigh molecular wt

polyethylene have been used as fiber reinforcing agents.

 Metal wires like graphite has minimal esthetic qualities.

 Fibers are stronger than matrix polymer thus their inclusion

strengthens the composite structure.

 The reinforcing agent can be in the form of unidirectional, straight

fiber or multidirectional weaves.
RECENT ADVANCEMENT
 Modifications of acrylic resin materials designed to improve specific

properties included.
1 plasticization,
2 copolymerization,
3.cross linking and reinforcement .
 Internal plasticization by co-polymerization may improve strength
properties.

 Cross-linking is a special case of co-polymerization. In general cross-linking

lowers strength and flexibility but increases solvent resistance, softening
point and hardness
 One disadvantage of cross-linking is the reduction of bonding between
acrylic resin teeth and the base which may occur particularly with a cold
curing base material

 Reinforcement by glass fibers is easily accomplished. This is done by

mixing discrete fibers with dough or by combination with glass cloth .

 Specially primed glass is necessary to bring out good adhesion to the
resin and to maintain it particularly in wet conditions.

 In the dough fiber method, the percentage of glass which can be

incorporated is limited to about 20% by weight because of reduction of flow
of the dough .
Alternatives to methacrylate materials
 Most alternatives to polymethacrylate are vinyl acrylic, polysterene, acrylic
styrene, acrylonetrile copolymers .

NEW PLASTIC MATERIAL

 High impact methacrylates (IM): These are basically similar to standard
methacrylate but have a higher impact and fatigue strength.

 Epoxy resins (E): The general properties of these materials are strength,
hardness, toughness, low curing shrinkage and good adhesion to metals.
The disadvantages for dental use are the toxicity, the yellow colour which
darkens further, high water absorption, poor adhesion to vinyl polymers
 Nylon materials: They were found to be unsatisfactory for denture base
because of high molding shrinkage which led to warpage, high water
absorption and yellowing.

 High impact polystyrene (IS): This is an elastomer graft copolymer with
styrene. It is basically similar to polysterene and injection molded in a similar
way.

 High density polythene (DE): This is stiffer stronger variety of polyether.

 Polypropylene (PP): this is a hydrocarbon polymer similar to polyethylene

but stiffer and stronger.

 Polyacetal (A): Also called polyformaldehyde. It has lower water absorption

with good resilience and toughness, and resistance to fatigue
 Polycarbonate (PE): It is thermoplastic material with low water absorption
and very high impact strength and toughness.

 Chlorinated polyether: It has very low water absorption and low mold

shrinkage with excellent resistance to staining and chemical agents

 Eclipse prosthetic resin system is a new method of fabricating dentures

from Dentsply International. It is being marketed as an indirect build-up
method for fabricating dentures that is monomer-free and flask-free. Eclipse
is a light-cured system that does not contain any ethyl-, methyl-, butyl-, or
propyl-methacrylate monomers.

 System uses three resins to form the denture: Baseplate Resin, Set-up
Resin and Contour Resin. The resins were developed to handle like wax,
yet be cured into a denture base material – without investing and flasking.
 VALPLAST -
Valplast is a flexible denture base resin that is ideal for partial dentures and
unilateral restorations.
 The resin is a biocompatible nylon thermoplastic ,it eliminates the concern
about acrylic allergies.
6

Prosthetic Uses

 Denture bases  Fluoride and

bleaching trays
 Denture teeth
 Facing on esthetical
 Relining Materials
crowns
 Repair of dentures  Provisional
 Provisional acrylic restorations
partial dentures  Removable tooth
 Custom impression movement devices
trays  Orthodontic retainers
 Mouth guards

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Denture base function
6

Distributes pressure over a wider area

So reducing bone resorption
Retains artificial teeth
Replaces missing tissue
Forms a seal for retention

64
6
Plastic acrylic teeth

 Bind chemically to the denture

 Can be adjusted
 Not cause wear of opposing tooth
 Good colour match
 Minor resiliency
 Wear under high force occlusion
 May stain with time

65
6
Maxillofacial prosthesis

Needed
After trauma
Surgical defects
Birth defects

Other materials
Silicone rubber
Vinyls with
plasticizers

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6
Acrylic repair

 Materials
Chemically cured acrylic
Light cured acrylic

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Relining Materials

68
Provisional partial dentures
6

69
Impression trays
6

70
Record bases
6

 Materials
 Cold-curing acrylic resin
 Other material
 Shellac
 Vacuum formed vinyl or polystyrene
 Baseplate wax.

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6
Occlusal Splints
Night guards
Bleaching and fluoride
application trays

72
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Mouth guards

73
6

Orthodontic applications

 Removable tooth movement devices

 Orthodontic retainers

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6 Facing of crowns
Provisional restorations
Other materials:

•Polycarbonate
•Aluminum
•Stainless steel
•celluloid

75
Ideal properties
•Low density
 Natural appearance
•Radiopaque
 Easy processing
•High thermal conductivity
 Easy to clean
•High modulus of elasticity, impact
 Easy to repair strength
 Inexpensive
•Abrasive resistance
 Biocompatible
•Dimensionally stable
 Resistant to bacterial
•Accurate reproduction of surface
contamination
detail
 High strength, stiffness,
hardness, toughness,
fatigue resistance
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Curing methods
 Chemically cured
 Tertiary amine ( dimethyl-p-toluidine or sulfinic acid)
(accelerator)
 Benzoyl peroxide (initiator)
 Hydroquinone (inhibitor)
 Heat cured
 Heat and pressure control
 Avoids porosity
 Maximizes conversion of monomer to polymer
 Light cured
 Photo-initiators (camphorquinone),
 Blue light,
 Used for: record bases, custom tray, denture repair

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Chemical cured resin
 Cure is initiated by a tertiarv amine (e.g. Dimethyl-p-
toluidine or sulfinic acid)
 Absence of heat:
 Lower molecular weight material
 Lower strength properties
 Higher residual monomer in the resin
 Color stability is not as good- yellowing
 Less contraction on cooling to room temp

 Polymer beads are smaller

 Faster dissolution in the monomer to produce a dough
 Doughy stage is reached before the addition curing reaction – mix
viscosity is high and prevents the adaptation of the mix to the mould
walls or cast -keep readapting

 Lowering of the glass transition temperature

 Less build-up of internal strain
 Highly susceptible to creep- distortion when in use.

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Light activated materials
 Components:
 Urethane dimethacrylate matrix
 Acrylic copolymer
 Silica filler to control rheology
 Forms
 Sheets
 Ropes
 Curing
 Light chamber- 400-500 nm
 Photo-initiators (camphorquinone),
 Teeth added in a second exposure over the base
 Used for
 Record bases
 Custom tray
 Denture repair
 Hardness and impact strength ≈ heat cured resin
 Elastic modulus < heat cured resin; deform under
mastication
 Less shrinkage (3%) better fit 79
 Less residual monomer
Auto-polymerizing, pour acrylic
 Reducing agent (tertiary aromatic amine or barbituric
acid derivative, NN’-dimethyl-p-toluidine) reacts with
peroxide at room temp.
 Excellent detail reproduction
 To be able to pour in mold, balanced size, mwt,
plasticizers and xlink agents
 Reversible hydrocolloid (agar) mold can’t resist teeth
movement during pouring
 Hydro pressure flask reduces air bubbles and
monomer porosities
 Difficult to dewax, less monomer binding to teeth
 Shortcomings:
 residual monomer
 ↓ Cross link densities
  Creep
  Variety of products
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Types of acrylic

 Other (polystyrene,epoxy, SS)

 PMMA Adhesion to
Metal- use adhesive primers
untreated porcelain teeth with organo
silane compounds

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Heat Cured Resin

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Polymethyl methacrylate
MMA

Liquid

Heat and pressure

PMMA (entanglements)

Powder

Particle swells Old and new

PMMA
polymer chains
Powder MMA
Intertwined at the
Liquid molecular level.

Activation
Acrylic dough (Cohesive gel)
Initiation

Propagation

Termination
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Setting reaction

Mixing of powder and liquid cause monomer diffusion and

softening of the surface of the powder producing the following
gelling stages:
Ratio P/L (2/1 wt%, 1.6 -1 vol%)
 Sandy- initial melting of beads (not used)
 Stringy or sticky- entanglements with swollen beads and
thickened interstitial monomer (not used)
 Dough- gelation (used)
 Rubbery- monomer penetrates to the core of beads,
plasticizing them, ↓Tg (not used)

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Manipulation issues

P/L
Inadequate filling by monomer
Weak material properties
Porosity
↓P/L
Excessive polymerisation shrinkage
Poor fit
Light color as powder holds the pigments

85
Manipulation issues
Curing before monomer diffuse to bead (before dough
stage)
↓ flexural strength
cracks between linear polymerised interstitial gel and cross linked beads
More shrinkage contraction by the loss of pressure produced by the dough to
compensate for it
Curing in dough stage
 monomer penetrate the beads
 dissolves beads allows cross-linking agent to penetrate
 interpenetrating polymer network IPN.
Packing in the rubber stage
 Less extrusion of excess acrylic from flask
 Extra pressure in the mould
 Fracture the cast
 less flow around teeth
 Dislodgment of teeth into mould

86
Manipulation issues

 Control of color
 Pigments position
 Inside beads
 surface of beads
• polymer should be added to the monomer slowly so it will not
washed off by too rapidly
 Blood vessel resembling Fibers aggregate in the bottom
of bottle
• Shake powder well before use
 Mould Lining
 resin may penetrate rough plaster and adhere
 a separating medium must be employed
 solution of sodium alginate
 tin foil.

87
Manipulation issues
 Control of Processing strains
 Shrinkage in restricted mould cause internal strain
 On release of stress (flask opening) it may give
 Crazing
 Warpage
 Distortion
 These are reduced by the slightly extra packed material
that flow into shrinkage spaces when temperature is
higher than Tg (heated flask)
 Manipulation further reduces strains by
 Using acrylic teeth
 Cooling the flask slowly

88
Flasking steps

 Flasking
 Dewaxing
 Putting a separating medium
 Placing acrylic dough
 Packing
 Heat curing

89
Flasking for heat cured resin
 Flasking options with acrylic dough:
 Trial-packing, trimming, repacking
 Packing-only
 Poured resin (e.G., Lucitone fas-por)
 Injection moulding

 Heat and pressure control

 Aim to produce radicals and initiate polymerization
 Reaction is thermally activated and generates heat as well
 Reaction conversion is about 98 to 99.5%
 MMA: tbp = 100c (p= 1 atm); 140c (p= 2 atm)

90
Heat curing cycles
 Fast cycle
Cure at 71-72°C for 30-90 min
100°C for 30 min.
 Slow cycle = cure at 71-72°c for 10 hrs
[A slow cycle is better with larger amounts of
material.]
[Generally, slow cures result in better dimensional
accuracy.]
 Other cycles are done as recommended by
manufacturers

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Heat curing cycles

 Rapid heating:
 Excess radical release
 Extra xlinking and branching of interstitial
polymer
 More residual monomer
 Reduced toughness
 Heat builds up from exothermic rxn
 Porosity
 Loss of strength
 Bad esthetics (opaque and cloudy color)
 Possible fouling

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Heat curing cycles
 Slow :
 Sufficient radical release
 Adequate xlinking and branching between high
mwt polymer chains
 Increased toughness
 Sufficient radical ends increase monomer
incorporation in growing chains
 Xlinking agents polymerized, reducing their
plasticizing effect (in their non bound state) and
reduce creep
 Produce an annealing effect easing stresses
produced from shrinkage, reducing crazing and
distortion

93
Heat curing cycles

 Pressure control
 Places compressive force
 Compensates for polymerization shrinkage
 Increase flow of dough around teeth, more monomer
wetting and surface dissolution, stronger bond
 Oozes out excess dough
 Some hybrid systems begin polymerization from one
side to allow dough to cover for shrinkage

94
Heat curing cycles

 Microwave curing
Uses a microwave
Flasks are non metalic
Reduced time

95
Denture shortcomings

96
Denture Radiolucency
 Problems when accidents displace fractured
segments
 Lungs
 Skull
 stomach
 Salts and fillers reduce esthetics, strength
 Organo-metalics are toxic
 Bromine containing organics lack heat stability, must be
added in quantities that plasticize the denture, causing creep
and water sorption
 Phase separating bromo-polymer in beads reduce the
previous effects

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Mechanical properties
 Failure to Moderate strengths:
 impact resistant denture is low
 Low elastic and flexural modulus
 lack of fracture toughness
 30% of denture repairs involve midline fractures
which are most prevalent among upper dentures.
 dropped denture does not necessarily break instantly
 a crack continue to grow and failure due to flexural fatigue.
 Failure due to poor quality processing
 Lack of bonding between the resin and the acrylic teeth and
weak interface
 Crazes due to processing faults or exposure to solvents is
another possibility.
 Creep
 Reduced by cross linking
 Heat cured < cold cured

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Internal denture porosity

Inherent porosity: Minimized by

 Not seen by vision  Use heat cured resin
 1-2% of residual  Pack denture under
monomer correct pressure
 Leaks  Use correct P/L
 Replaced by fluids  Use the glaze after
polishing

99
Internal denture porosity

Irregular porosity: Minimized by

 Seen by vision  Use correct P/L
 Add liquid first
 Not regular on
 Mix well
denture surface
 Cover the mix before
 P/L heterogeneity dough stage
 Air incorporation  Can use the vibrator
(spherical
pores)

100
External denture porosity
Irregular surface Minimized by
deficiencies:  Mold dough by hand
 Seen by vision into small areas
 Insufficient pressure  Place sufficient
 Dough was not molded material in flask
correctly by hand leaving  Pack under correct
surface blisters and pores pressure
 Insufficient dough

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External denture porosity
Irregular porosity: Minimized to by
 Shrinkage by  Pack under pressure
polymerisation (5-8% vol  Slight extra denture
or 0.2 -0.5% linear) material can overcome
 Further shrinkage by shrinkage and
cooling to room maintain pressure
temperature (single packing)
 Can compensated for by  Pack in dough stage
the post dam technique

102
Internal denture porosity
Minimized by
Gaseous porosity  Avoid high processing
Seen by vision temperatures
Volatisation of  Avoid extra monomer
than recommended for
monomer by P/L
Localized MMA boiling
 Raise heat slowly and
Common in thicker evenly around the
portions flask

103
Crazing
 Area of localised region of high plastic
deformation which may fill by voids
 Crazed region can still support stress
 As the voids in the crazed region grow, they become
separated only by thin fibrils of polymer
 Fibrils fail and a crack is formed
 Crack will grow under an externally applied load
 Cause denture failure by brittle fracture.
 Caused by
 Internal strains in flask
 Heat (due to polishing)
 Differential contraction around porcelain teeth
 Attack by solvents such as alcohol

104
Crazing
 Avoid internal strain during polymerisation
 Slow cooling of the flask
 Use single trial packing
 Use cross linked polymer types
 Avoid extra stress during function
 Use acrylic rather than porcelain teeth
 Do not overheat on polishing
 Keep denture away from solvents
 Avoid denture drying
 Polish after each adjustment
 Use glazes for surface

105
Warpage on drying

 Contraction on evaporation of absorbed

water
 Don’t leave denture outside the mouth dry


106
Dimensional changes on
processing
 Expansion on heating flask; heat evenly
 Expansion on polymerization, exothermic
 Contraction on polymerization (21vol.%);
 Contraction on cooling to room temperature;
 Expansion on swelling in water;
 Expansion on thermal change to 32c.

Net result– should be near zero

WWW.RXDENTISTRY.BLOGSPOT.COM 107
Adverse reactions to PMMA

 Most common in dental

laboratories
 Associated with regular
contact with monomer
when handling the dough
Irritant contact  Must avoid direct contact
dermatitis  Rubber gloves may not
provide sufficient
protection
 Barrier creams can help

108
Adverse reactions to PMMA
 Must ensure full cure of denture
 Allergic contact dermatitis
 Usually associated with  Avoid relining procedures
release of  May use an extra cycle of
 residual monomer
 Benzoic acid polymerisation – but denture
 Types
 Immediate
may warp
 Delayed hypersensitivity  May need to consider
(type IV)
 Heat cured resin < chemical alternative material such as
cured polycarbonate if Delayed
hypersensitivity

109
Adverse reactions to PMMA

110
Thermal properties

 Low Thermal conductivity

 during denture processing heat cannot escape – prone to

gaseous porosity
 isolates from any sensation of temperature – throat burns

 High Coefficient of Thermal Expansion

 Porcelain teeth may be lost due the differential expansion and

action
 Warpage if denture is cleaned with hot water

111
Water Sorption
 PMMA will absorb water by polar nature (1.0-2.0% wt)
 May compensate for processing shrinkage
 Weeks of continuous immersion in water to reach a
stable weight

Solubility
 Solvents (e.G. Chloroform, alcohol)
 Xlinked are insoluble in most of fluid intakes
 Weight loss will occur, due to leaching of the
 Monomer
 Pigments and dyes.

112
6
Dimensional and thermal
changes
 Expansion on polymerization, exothermic
 Contraction on polymerization
 21vol.% If unfilled acrylic resin
 6% denture resin
 1-3% composites
 Expansion on swelling in water
 Expansion or warpage on thermal change
and reheating

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Ideal properties achieved?
 Natural appearance 
 Easy processing 
 Easy to clean 
 Easy to repair 
 Inexpensive 
 Biocompatible 
 Resistant to bacterial contamination x
 High strength, stiffness, hardness, toughness X
 Low density 
 Radiopaque X
 High thermal conductivity X
 Dimensionally stable
X
 Accurate reproduction of surface detail 
114
Relining Materials

115
Denture base reprocessing:

Hard and soft tissue changes every 5-8 years

 Require modifying denture base:
 Relining  resurfacing of the tissue surface
 Rebasing  replacement of entire denture base

116
Soft denture lining material

Uses:
 After surgery
 Immediate dentures
 Sores
 Undercuts which are not removed by surgery
 Ill fitting denture
 can be done
 In lab
 Chair side

117
Ideal lining material properties

 Durability: but hardens in short time

(1-4w, 1-3 y)
 Dimensional stability
 Resistance to fouling
 Water absorption
 Osmotic presence of soluble material
 Resistance of Biodegradation
 Could it bond old acrylic
 Inhibit candida growth
118
Lining materials–acrylic based
Glassy MMA + high conc. of plasticizers
Plasticizers:
Free: diffuse out reducing the resiliency
Bound in cured matrix – failed clinically
 Has lower rate of polymerization
 Phase separation
 Water accumulate in plasticizer rich phase
 Soluble impurities cause more osmotic pressure
 Swells and distorts
 Discoloration
 Bad taste
 Exothermic rxn
 Bad taste 119
Lining materials–acrylic based
Soft acrylics that have ↓Tg
 EMA (ethylmethacrylates)
 Beads coploymer
 Ethyl methacrylate + isobutyl methacrylate
 Ethyl methacrylate + ethoxyethyl methacrylate
• Have unpleasant odour
 Monomer
 MMA Tg > room temp Less irritant to patients
 Isobutyl methacrylate Tg < room temp (polished after placing
in iced water), Dimensional instability
 Plasticizer in monomer trapped in beads (25-50%)
 Phthalate ester – leach out by time
 Avoid heat, strong bleaching agents that reduce resilience
120
Lining materials–acrylic based
Soft acrylics that have ↓Tg
Hydroxy EMA
 Water is the plasticizer
 Swelling of liner may make it distort
 Ions enter and may crystallize inside matrices thus
hardening the liner

Polymerisable plasticisers
 Beads ploymer
 Ethyl methacrylate + isobutyl methacrylate or
 Monomer
Alkyl maleate or
Alkyl itaconate + Tridecyl methacrylate +
2-diethylhexyl maleate, ethylene glycol dimethacrylate 121
Tissue conditioners
Differ from soft lining material by the following
 Different viscoelastic properties
 Flowable on insertion responding to
• Masticatory forces
• Lingual forces
• Border moulding forces
 Increase viscosity on setting
 Flows slowly responding to persistent heavy masticatory forces
after setting
• Useful to fill space after tissue swellings resolve
• Can be used as a functional impression
 Reaction
 Gel formation not polymerization
 Alcohol swells beads and ↓ their Tg
 Beads become tacky by entanglements and  cohesive strength
122
Tissue conditioners
Differ from soft lining material by the following
 Composition
• Old- plasticine
• Old- chewing gum
• Ethyl methacrylate copolymers
• Or small mwt polymers

 Plasticisers:
 ethyl alcohol or
 aromatic esters (butylphthalyl butylglycolate)
 hemical cleaning damages the liner
• Use plain soap and water

123
Tissue conditioners
Differ from soft lining material by the following
 Alcohol problems:
 Leak and replaced by water- so harden days up to 14 days
 High conc. Can give a sting sensation
 Can give a false positive on breathalyser test
 Reduce leach of plasticisers by glazing or semiset MMA
 Very susceptible to infection
• Incorporate antimicrobials as
 silver zeolite
 itraconazole
 Chemical cleaning damages the liner
• Use plain soap and water
124
Silicon - RTV
 Room temperature vulcanizing silicones (RTV)
 Polymethyl siloxane polymer
 It sets by crosslinking of existing polymers
 Heat
 Tetraethyl silicate
 Condensation minimal xlinking
 Poor tear resistance
 Poor abrasion resistance
 Poor adhesion to denture
 Use adhesive or coupling agent
 Osmotic pressure effects
 Buckling and swelling with water
 Poor resistance to cleansers
 Biocompatible
 Dimensional stability
 May foul by Candida
125
Silicon – Heat cured
 More xlinking
 Poor tear resistance
 Adequate adhesion to denture
 Can use siloxane methacrylate as a binder to heat
cured additional silicon
 Resistant to aqueous environment and Osmotic
pressure effects
 better resistance to cleansers
 Poor tear resistance
 Poor abrasion resistance

126
Denture base hygiene
1. Clean with toothbrush and warm soap-and-water
2. Use low abrasive cleaners

2. Avoid oxidizing or Cl-containing materials

• Bleaching the color
• Reduces strengths of denture
• Reduces fatigue resistance
3. Diligently clean both the top and tissue-borne surfaces
4. Clean with benzalkonioum

127
Thank you

128